Qualcomm Calls Tim Cook's Statement on Settlement Talks 'Misleading'

Apple CEO Tim Cook in an interview yesterday said that Apple had not been in any kind of settlement talks with Qualcomm since the third calendar quarter of 2018, which ended in September.

Cook was referencing November comments from Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf, who said during a November 7 earnings call that Qualcomm has "continued to have discussions with Apple to try and reach a resolution" and in an interview later in the month that the two companies were "really on the doorstep of finding a resolution."

qualcomm iphone 7
After Cook made it clear yesterday that no settlement talks had taken place when those comments were made, Qualcomm in a statement told Reuters that what Cook had to say was "misleading" and that the company stands by Mollenkopf's statement.

"We have been consistent for the last 18 months in making clear that we have, at various times, been in discussions with Apple about a possible resolution to our licensing dispute," a Qualcomm spokesperson said in a statement. "We have also stated clearly on several occasions that we believe it will be resolved, one way or the other, in the near future, either through a settlement or court decisions."

In response, Apple said that Cook's comments were accurate. "Qualcomm is desperate to obfuscate the tales it has been telling its investors. Their accusations are a red herring," said Apple.

Cook yesterday had no kind words for Qualcomm, calling its policies "illegal."

The issues that we have with Qualcomm is that they have a policy of no license, no chips. This is, in our view, illegal. And so many regulators in many different countries agree with this. And then secondly, the obligation to offer their patent portfolio on a fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory basis. And they don't do that. They charge exorbitant prices. And they have a lot of different tactics they use to do that. And that's not just us saying that. I mean, you can see what's coming out of the FTC trial here in the United States.

Cook also spoke about Qualcomm's alleged tactic of spreading fake news, which came to light after a November report from The New York Times and subsequent followup reports suggested Qualcomm may have hired a research firm (Definers Public Affairs) to share negative stories about Apple.

"This is stuff that should be beneath companies," said Cook. "This is not how things should operate."

Apple and Qualcomm have been involved in an increasingly bitter legal battle since the beginning of 2017, with Apple refusing to pay unfair royalties to Qualcomm and Qualcomm countering with patent lawsuits and other litigation.

Qualcomm has achieved a preliminary import ban against the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8 in China and Germany. Apple was able to sidestep the China ban with a software update, but has stopped selling its devices in Germany.

In addition to its ongoing dispute with Apple, Qualcomm is this week facing an antitrust trial levied by the FTC. The FTC, like Apple, claims that Qualcomm uses its position and portfolio of patents to impose anticompetitive supply and licensing terms on manufacturers.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Coming Next Week: Eight Reasons to Upgrade

Thursday September 4, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
We're only days away from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 9 – and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023. By the time the Ultra 3 is unveiled, it will have been two years since the previous model arrived. The intervening period has left plenty of room for...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro's Biggest Design Mystery is Finally Solved

Friday September 5, 2025 9:33 am PDT by
Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 17 series in just four days from now, and the biggest design mystery surrounding the Pro models has finally been solved. In a report outlining his expectations for Apple's event next week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the iPhone 17 Pro models will have "a new cutout area on the bottom two-thirds of the phone that doubles as the wireless charging area."...
iPhone 16 Battery Life Feature

iOS 26's New Battery Life Mode is Limited to These iPhone Models

Wednesday September 3, 2025 1:19 pm PDT by
iOS 26 introduces an Adaptive Power Mode on the iPhone, alongside the existing Low Power Mode. Apple says Adaptive Power Mode can make "performance adjustments" when necessary to extend an iPhone's battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness, allowing some activities to "take longer," and automatically turning on Low Power Mode when the iPhone's remaining battery life...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...

Top Rated Comments

macsrcool1234 Avatar
87 months ago
They charge exorbitant prices
Something Tim Cook knows a thing or two about. Not so great being on the other side, huh?
Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Goff Avatar
87 months ago
Something Tim Cook knows a thing or two about. Not so great being on the other side, huh?
If you don’t know the difference between consumer electronics and standards essential patents, I don’t know what to say.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
87 months ago
Tim Cook is well tuned to misleading. After being questioned about product leaks, he went on record as saying that Apple was "laser focused" on closing the gaps; yet since then they've actually had more and more each year.

Keys on your MacBook Pro stop working properly or become sticky? Not his problem. But the silicone membrane on the revision was for dampening noise levels? Hm.

And it must suck to be an investor, now safe in the knowledge that he will no longer reveal sales numbers for iPhones, despite apparent record sales.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
87 months ago
"Misleading"? Please, Qualcomm, around here we only use adjectives that double as meat products.

Bologna
Chicken
…uh
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CreeptoLoser Avatar
87 months ago
Qualcomm should make their own phones and lets see what a piece of crap they make.

Arm Holdings is a company that behaves much better. They know how to make their licensees happy.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diamond3 Avatar
87 months ago
Well Qualcomm didn't exactly deny all of what Tim Cook stated which makes me feel like they're acknowledging some validity to what he said or can't refute it. My guess is there has been some sort of communication between lawyers in 18 months, but no meaningful discussion.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)