At this point we’re well-informed with Apple’s want to aggressively use patent laws to hit Android handsets where it counts, their shelf space. While Samsung and HTC have taken the brunt of the Apple offensive, Google is ready to step in according to the Korea Times. The paper reports that Google and Samsung have a “game-plan” against Apple that will likely lead to a cross-licensing deal — in other words, both companies will set out to get money from Apple. A Samsung source told the paper:
“It’s too early to comment on our game plan (with Google) in the legal battle; but we will do our best to get more royalties from Apple, which has benefited from our technology. The fight is becoming more dramatic and the possibility of a truce in the form of a cross-licensing deal, seems to be becoming likely.”
A cross-licensing deal isn’t exactly new in the technology business, in fact it’s quite common. Microsoft is famous for its cross-licensing deals in the Android game with its own deals with Samsung, HTC, Onkyo, Viewsonic etc , etc. Samsung and Google are said to be looking for similar terms where Microsoft receive money for every Android handset sold by these manufacturers.
Samsung and Google are likely at wit’s end over Apple’s lawsuits and want to get back to fighting on equal grounds with innovation. Let the battle return to creating better products and not holding products back leaving the consumer market to suffer. Google is said to want a similar partnership with HTC, leaving Apple plenty of time to gear up for another fight.
9to5mac via Korea Times