InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[laranger]

Ghors.

Never let it be said that Nokia's strategists are not pretty smart cookies. . . . . . . . . . to a point.

They're currently attacking on several fronts, but it all started with the first agreements, more than five years ago, IMO:

1. Let's sign an agreement with this pesky little twerp that provides for "starter" payments, followed by nothing for two years.

2. If we get caught by the agreement, we'll play the "out-wait 'em" card.

Keep eating-up huge chunks of time by demanding arbitration for 2G (2 years), followed by a lawsuit to invalidate 3G, which should be worth another couple of years. By then, most of their 2G patents will have expired, and the Delaware action should prevent them from signing 3G licenses.

3. If the ICC rules against us, take advantage of the law: Wait for 90 days and file an action to vacate, which will delay payment for several more months.

4. While all this is going on, throw a number of "press release turds" in Wall Street's punch bowl, designed to keep the price down, confuse, discourage, and mislead, until we come up with our next delaying tactic.

But, they underestimated Merritt and our legal guyz. They cut Nokia off at the pass by forcing an answer in the enforcement action in 10 days, versus taking possibly 6 months or more in a separate vacating action.

A small victory where time is concerned. But it's a start.