In times of economic crisis, when equipment orders are delayed and margins squeezed, large vendors become particularly aggressive in chasing intellectual property rights (IPR). Licensing of patented technology carries high margins, as Ericsson highlighted when it blamed reduced IPR revenues in its second quarter for a dip in its gross margin (see separate item). One important factor in that dip, according to sources, may have been ongoing disputes with Apple over patent licensing, though the Swedish firm has scored some recent successes over the iPhone maker. Nokia, also eager to boost IPR revenues and profits when its core businesses are under pressure, has also been on the warpath against handset makers that are allegedly infringing its patents, and…