Apple Proposing Settlements in Android Device Patent Disputes, Would Reap $5-15 Per Android Device

Dow Jones Newswires reports that Apple has expressed a willingness to settle some of its patent disputes with manufacturers of Android-based handsets such as Samsung and Motorola, potentially seeking to reduce the burden of ongoing litigation.

The consumer-electronics company has put forth proposals to Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. (MMI) and Samsung Electronics Co. (005930.SE, SSNHY) to settle some pending litigation in exchange for royalty payments to license its patents, among other terms, [people familiar with the matter] said.

This is not a new tactic; Apple had some discussions with companies such as Samsung before initiating litigation, according to statements made to a court in at least one suit.

apple android logos 400
But Samsung and Motorola are not likely to be willing to agree to such settlements at face value, with Apple reportedly proposing that its competitors pay a $5-15 licensing fee to Apple for each Android handset sold.

Apple, of Cupertino, Calif., has asked for between $5 and $15 per handset for some of its patents in one negotiation, or roughly 1% to 2.5% of net sales per device, another person familiar with the matter said. Motorola, for its part, has been criticized for asking for 2.5% of net sales per device for its wireless patents from Apple.

The report notes that any settlements would appear to go against Steve Jobs' desires, as he expressed in his biography that he wished "destroy Android" even if it required "every penny" of Apple's cash hoard. Apple's cash position and domination of mobile phone industry revenues also mean that the company has less of a need to settle for royalty payments from its competitors.

Apple's competitors are of course pursuing their own actions against the company, which each side hoping to use leverage from their lawsuits to gain more favorable terms in any settlement talks.

Popular Stories

iPadOS 26 App Windowing

Apple Explains Why iPads Don't Just Run macOS

Friday June 13, 2025 7:46 am PDT by
iPadOS 26 allows iPads to function much more like Macs, with a new app windowing system, a swipe-down menu bar at the top of the screen, and more. However, Apple has stopped short of allowing iPads to run macOS, and it has now explained why. In an interview this week with Swiss tech journalist Rafael Zeier, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that iPadOS 26's new Mac-like ...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday June 12, 2025 8:58 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
Logitech Logo Feature

Logitech Announces Two New Accessories for WWDC

Friday June 13, 2025 7:22 am PDT by
Alongside WWDC this week, Logitech announced notable new accessories for the iPad and Apple Vision Pro. The Logitech Muse is a spatially-tracked stylus developed for use with the Apple Vision Pro. Introduced during the WWDC 2025 keynote address, Muse is intended to support the next generation of spatial computing workflows enabled by visionOS 26. The device incorporates six degrees of...
iOS 26 Screens

Here Are All the iOS 26 Features That Require iPhone 15 Pro or Newer

Thursday June 12, 2025 4:53 am PDT by
With iOS 26, Apple has introduced some major changes to the iPhone experience, headlined by the new Liquid Glass redesign that's available across all compatible devices. However, several of the update's features are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, since they rely on Apple Intelligence. The following features are powered by on-device large language models and machine...
apple beta 26 lineup

Apple 'Sherlocked' These Apps at WWDC 2025

Wednesday June 11, 2025 7:14 am PDT by
Apple at WWDC previewed a bunch of new features coming in its updated operating systems, but certain changes will have been met with dismay by third-party developers who already offer apps with equivalent or similar features. In other words, their product has been "sherlocked" by Apple. When Apple creates an app or a feature that has functionality found in a third-party app, it is referred...
maxresdefault

Everything Apple Announced at WWDC 2025 in 10 Minutes

Monday June 9, 2025 5:21 pm PDT by
At today's WWDC 2025 keynote event, Apple unveiled a new design that will inform the next decade of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS development, so needless to say, it was a busy day. Apple also unveiled a ton of new features for the iPhone, an overhauled Spotlight interface for the Mac, and a ton of updates that make the iPad more like a Mac than ever before. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

Hate iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design? Here's How to Tone It Down

Wednesday June 11, 2025 4:22 pm PDT by
iOS 26 features a whole new design material that Apple calls Liquid Glass, with a focus on transparency that lets the content on your display shine through the controls. If you're not a fan of the look, or are having trouble with readability, there is a step that you can take to make things more opaque without entirely losing out on the new look. Apple has multiple Accessibility options that ...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

Apple to Let iPhone Users Watch Videos on CarPlay Screen While Parked

Thursday June 12, 2025 6:16 am PDT by
Apple this week announced that iPhone users will soon be able to watch videos right on the CarPlay screen in supported vehicles. iPhone users will be able to wirelessly stream videos to the CarPlay screen using AirPlay, according to Apple. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the vehicle is parked, to prevent distracted driving. The connected iPhone will be able to...

Top Rated Comments

Peace Avatar
173 months ago
This is just a tit for tat maneuver by Apple.

If Moto wants to charge 2.5% then Apple wants 2.5%

This is actually funny .
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bradllez Avatar
173 months ago
Great. Another effort. Just settle these all, please.
I think we both know that these will never end.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stridder44 Avatar
173 months ago
Hah, they're just going back and forth. "You want this amount? Okay, we want an equal amount from you." Of course it'll be shot down (as it should), but still, this is pretty funny.


(I know, I know...down-vote me if it makes you feel big and special...it really hurts.)
I think people are more enticed to downvote you when you put crap like this at the bottom of all your posts.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dwman Avatar
173 months ago
I know I'm going to get severely down ranked for this, but the Android battle seemed to be SJ's personal war. He lost to MS and didn't want to lose again in the mobile space and felt betrayed by Eric Schmidt. Fair enough.

But he's gone and it's time to move forward. Make a deal for $5/handset or whatever and get back to the business of innovating. Consumers are ultimately the ones that lose in these patent battles. Look at Google Maps...hasn't been updated on the iPhone since 2008.
I can certainly appreciate defending your work especially if you feel it's been pilfered by another company. I'm hopeful Tim Cook is a little more willing to talk to Google and settle this once and for all.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArcaneDevice Avatar
173 months ago
This is just a tit for tat maneuver by Apple.

If Moto wants to charge 2.5% then Apple wants 2.5%

This is actually funny .
And then Android will want something from Apple for use of the notification center and it will all work out that everyone will be owning parts of each others company and the technology world will coalesce into one giant mass which will unite under the Skynet banner and kill humanity.

Or lawyers will just get even richer. Whichever.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BaldiMac Avatar
173 months ago
And then Android will want something from Apple for use of the notification center and it will all work out that everyone will be owning parts of each others company and the technology world will coalesce into one giant mass which will unite under the Skynet banner and kill humanity.

Or lawyers will just get even richer. Whichever.

That'll be the next lawsuit we'll see. Notification Center that is...not a Skynet lawsuit :p

I'd actually have to support Android from that front as its VERY obvious that Notification Center is a copy of the Android notification center.

(Note to fans: Seriously...look at the two instead of down voting for once and see it, its as plane as the nose on your face.)

Unless the iOS notification center violates a patent, what exactly would Google be suing over? Copying ideas isn't necessarily against the law.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)