MOSCOW, February 27 (RAPSI) - Ericsson, the Swedish telecommunications equipment manufacturer, has sued Apple for breaching patent rights, RIA Novosti reports Friday citing the Swedish company.

“Many of Ericsson's patents are essential to the 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE standards; others are critical to other non-standardized aspects of Apple's devices,” the company’s press release says. The Swedish company’s patents are used in some semiconductor components in Apple devices, user interface software, location services and applications as well as in the iOS operating system.

“After Apple refused Ericsson's offer to determine fair licensing terms by which both companies would be bound, Ericsson filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) requesting an exclusion order against Apple's products for infringing Ericsson patents.”

Additionally, Ericsson filed a complaint with a Texas court requesting damages and injunctions for infringement of patents by Apple.

“Apple's products benefit from the technology invented and patented by Ericsson's engineers. Features that consumers now take for granted <…> rely on the technology we have developed. <…> Apple currently uses our technology without a license and therefore we are seeking help from the court and the ITC,” said Kasim Alfalahi, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Ericsson.