Apple and HTC have reached settlement to dismiss all current lawsuits worldwide, and the companies have forged a ten-year license agreement, the terms of which are confidential. Although the two smartphone makers say that the license extends to current and future patents held by both parties, analysts are calling Apple the main victor here.
“HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC, in a prepared press statement.
“We are glad to have reached a settlement with HTC,” said Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. “We will continue to stay laser focused on product innovation.”
For Cook, ‘glad’ would seem to be an understatement. Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu claims that he has spoken with industry sources who told him that Apple will generate about $6 to $8 in licensing fees for each smartphone HTC ships in 2013. Based Wu’s estimate of 30 million to 35 million shipments, he believes that Apple will generate $180 million to $280 million in licensing fees.
Apple remains in hotly contested patent battles in numerous countries with other device makers — namely Samsung and Motorola, which is now owned by Google.
