TWO OF THE WORLD’S largest mobile phone companies have settled a major legal dispute over claims that each had infringed the patents of the other.

In a press release issued this morning, Nokia said it had reached a licence agreement with Apple where the latter manufacturer will make one up-front payment, and an ongoing series of regular ones.

The settlement brings an end to a dispute dating from 2009, where Nokia had launched legal action over the alleged violation of 10 of its patents. It said at the time that those patents were crucial in making the iPhone compatible with technologies like WiFi and GSM.

In response, Apple had this year launched a countersuit claiming that Nokia’s patent for on-screen scrolling technology was not valid – and that the Finnish manufacturer was therefore infringing Apple’s own patent.

Nokia, in a brief statement, said it was “very pleased to have Apple join the growing number of Nokia liencees”.

Apple has yet to issue a comment of its own, and it is unclear whether Apple has acknowledged to knowingly infringing Nokia’s intellectual property.

Financial details of the settlement were not disclosed.