Nokia Corp., the world's biggest mobile phone maker, said Tuesday it has filed suits against several liquid crystal display makers for alleged price fixing.
The Finnish company said the suits, filed last month in the United States and Britain, follow investigations by government authorities and similar actions by other companies.
''Nokia has filed suits to recover overcharges it paid as a result of cartel activities which are currently under governmental investigation,'' a company statement said. ''When certain companies and management employees have already admitted participating in, or are indicted for, global price-fixing cartels involving components that Nokia has purchased, it is reasonable for Nokia to seek redress.''
Nokia said it is focusing on alleged cartels involving liquid crystal displays, used in handsets, and cathode ray tubes.
''Nokia has filed LCD suits in the U.K. (Britain) and U.S., and filed a CRT suit in the U.K.,'' Nokia said. ''Other civil suits have already been filed in the U.S. by other claimants.''
The company said that in line with litigation policy, it had no further details ''to share at this time.''
Nokia, based in Espoo near the Finnish capital, sold 468 million handsets last year, up 7 percent on 2007.

Note
Litigation: Litigation is the process of fighting or defending a case in a civil court of law.