The US International Trade Commission is investigating Nokia over allegations that it infringed Qualcomm patents.

Qualcomm complained to the ITC in June and is asking for an exclusion order to stop imports of infringing Nokia products, and a cease and desist order to stop Nokia selling handsets it has already imported into the US. The ITC is considering whether Nokia "engaged in unfair trade practises" by selling handsets which infringed on Qualcomm patents.

The ITC has appointed Honourable Robert L. Barton Jr. He will hold a hearing for evidence and make an "initial determination" in the first half of 2007.

The row between Nokia and Qualcomm over CDMA has been rumbling for sometime. In November 2005 Qualcomm began legal action in the US against Nokia for allegedly infringing 11 of its patents and one owned by its subsidiary SnapTrack.

Qualcomm is also taking action in the English courts - in May it began proceedings claiming that Nokia infringed two of its UK patents.

See the Qualcomm press release here.