ITT files patent suit versus Verizon, phone makers

NEW YORK, March 25 (Reuters) - A unit of manufacturing conglomerate ITT Corp (ITT.N) filed a lawsuit against Verizon Wireless and several phone makers including Nokia (NOK1V.HE), Motorola Inc (MOT.N) and LG Electronics (066570.KS) accusing them of infringement of a global positioning system patent.

The lawsuit, which also cites chip supplier Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) and phone maker Kyocera Corp (6971.T) as defendants, was dated March 23 and filed in the U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware.

ITT said Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N) and Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L), infringes the patent by selling mobile phones adapted for assisted GPS technology, which can locate a phone user's location.

It said the GPS offering, which works on Verizon Wireless phones from the manufacturers cited in the case, infringes ITT's patent No. 5,365,450.

It asked the court for a permanent injunction against infringing of the patent, except to the extent that it is necessary to support 911 emergency services, and for an award of damages equivalent to a "reasonable royalty" and interest.

Verizon Wireless, LG and Qualcomm were not immediately available for comment. Kyocera declined comment.

A Nokia spokesman said the company "will vigorously defend itself in this matter and ensure its rights are fully protected." (Reporting by Sinead Carew, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)