There's no quick end in sight to Nokia's patent fight with Apple

In October 2009, leading mobile phone maker Nokia sued Apple over the iPhone, claiming the company never fairly compensated Nokia for using its patents. Two months later, Apple countersued, claiming that a number of Nokia products violated Apple's own patents.

Then just over two weeks ago, Nokia fired back with more accusations, and cited Apple's culture of "stealing great ideas" to advance its own products, which extends well beyond the iPhone, and into all of Apple's products (PDF available here).

The most recent action in this spat is a complaint from Apple that mirrors Nokia's first complaint from October. On January 15, the company filed a request that the US International Trade Commission conduct an investigation of Nokia's mobile communications and computer devices and components under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930.

A "337 complaint" covers unfair methods of competition and unfair acts in the importation of goods into the United States, the ultimate result would be an injunction on the materials included in the complaint.

Nokia told the BBC that this complaint "does not alter the fact that Apple has failed to agree appropriate terms for using Nokia technology and has been seeking a free ride on Nokia's innovation since it shipped the first iPhone in 2007."