Handset maker, Nokia has lost a UK court action to through away a European patent holding claim to technology used by company's handset to connect to 3G technology, in the UK High Court.

Nokia lost the legal suit against a patent held by IPCom GmbH & Co that covers technology for allowing handsets to connect to a 3G network. Judge Christopher Floyd has upheld the patent held by IPCom's patent indicating that the company will now have to pay IPCom for using the technology.

Bernhard Frohwitter, IPCom's managing director said, "As far as we know, this is the first time that an essential telecoms 3G patent was ever upheld and judged infringed in the UK, a jurisdiction well-known for being very demanding for patent holders."

Nokia has responded by saying that it will appeal the decision. Nokia's shares fell by over three per cent to a 13-year low after the decision by Judge Floyd came out.