Bloomberg Businessweek publishes a cover story on the ongoing patent war between Apple and Android, outlining the history of the disputes between Apple and Android manufacturers such as HTC, Samsung and Motorola.

The report notes that Apple has actually experienced only limited success in its legal efforts, suggesting that Steve Jobs’ vow to wage “thermonuclear war” against Android may be backfiring somewhat with Apple’s soaring legal costs and retaliatory actions from its targets subjecting the company to risk while the benefits remain meager.

Photograph by Jochen Seigle/Polaris


Corroborating claims from earlier this month regarding Apple’s willingness to settle with the Android device manufacturers it has filed suit against, Bloomberg Businessweek reports that Apple and Samsung have “communicated lately” about settlement possibilities. The report suggests that settlement has become a more feasible option now that Apple is led by Tim Cook.

People familiar with the situation, however, note that top-level executives at both Apple and Samsung have communicated lately about potential settlement options. Apple CEO Tim Cook does not seem to share his predecessor’s passion about laying all foes to waste. Cook appears to view litigation as a necessary evil, not a vehicle of cosmic revenge.

Stanford University law professor Mark Lemley notes that the patent war has cost Apple and its opponents over $400 million over the past few years, and it is unclear just what benefits they have received for that massive sum of money. Lemley predicts that there will eventually be a major cross-licensing deal to bring the majority of the legal disputes to an end, but in the meantime the war continues to escalate as all sides continue to file new suits.





Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories

• Apple Working on New Device with 5-Inch Retina Display for 2013?

• Adobe Photoshop CS6 Beta Hits 500,000 Downloads

• Apple Execs Cook, Schiller, and Oppenheimer Sell Millions in Shares as RSUs from 2008 Vest

• Apple Releases Logic Pro and Logic Express 9.1.7

• Harry Potter E-Books Finally Available

Read more…

Similar Posts:

• Tim Cook and Samsung CEO Choi Gee-sung Meeting Today to Discuss Patent Issues
• Tim Cook and Larry Page Working to Address Patent Issues Between Apple and Google
• Apple Proposing Settlements in Android Device Patent Disputes, Would Reap $5-15 Per Android Device
• Apple and Samsung CEOs to Meet for Court-Moderated Settlement Talks over Patent Issues
• Apple’s Chief Patent Litigator Profiled as Samsung Threatens Lawsuits over iPhone 5