Apple copies Microsoft, wants $15 per Android device sold

Microsoft has taken a lot of heat for its spate of Android patent licensing deals. Just about everyone who builds Android phones or tablets (or Chrome OS notebooks) has signed on the dotted line with the suits in Redmond. The goal, of course, is to avoid lengthy, expensive litigation and provide both sides with access to the all-important contents of each others’ patent portfolios.


Apple, on the other hand, has been more than happy to file lawsuit after lawsuit in defense of its intellectual property and designs. Barely a week goes by that Apple isn’t suing Samsung or Motorola somewhere in the world, seeking injunctions and asking for gadgets to be pulled off store shelves.

That’s got everything to do with former CEO Steve Jobs’ mission to destroy Android even if it meant spending every last penny Apple had — and they’ve got a serious hoard of pennies. The times they are a-changin’, however, and a report from Dow Jones says that Cupertino’s legal eagles are willing to try the Microsoft approach.

Apple has reportedly offered licensing deals to Motorola and Samsung, two of their most frequent legal opponents. House of Cook is reportedly asking for between 1 and 2.5% of net device sales — which works out to $5-15. That’s roughly what Microsoft has secured in their royalty deals, and would mean that Samsung would have to cough up anywhere from $20 to $30 for each Android device sold should they sign an agreement with Apple.

That’s a substantial chunk of change when you’re trying to keep costs to a minimum, but Samsung could always fall back on Bada and Tizen if things get too expensive.

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