HTC chief executive dismisses Apple patent licence figures

Handset maker brushes off suggestion it agreed to pay $6 per Android handset

HTC chief executive Peter Chou has reportedly dismissed rumours that the handset maker is paying Apple $6 per Android smartphone for patents licences.

Chou reportedly told journalists that the rumoured details of HTC and Apple's patent agreement are false, describing the $6 claim as "outrageous" and reported that he was "happy" with the Apple patent agreement.

According to Reuters, Chou gave his views on the patent deal while at a product launch in Tokyo. While he failed to give any specifics on the deal, he was quoted as saying he thought the terms gave a "good ending" to the Apple and HTC patent feud.

The details of the Apple and HTC patent agreement are currently being kept under wraps. However, Samsung recently asked a US court to order Apple to release the agreed upon figures.

The Galaxy Note maker aims to use the patent agreement as evidence for its ongoing lawsuit with Apple.

Reuter's reported that Samsung has asking a judge to give the order because it believes some of the patents covered in the HTC deal are the same ones that are being discussed in its trial with Apple.

While Apple continues to work with independent Android smartphone makers on patent issues, some analysts feel it should be Google who goes to the Apple negotiation table.

A recent blog post from intellectual property expert Florian Muller outlined his thoughts on the ongoing smartphone patent battle.

Muller argued the best way to move away from litigation would be for Google to license patents for its Android OS. According to Muller, the move would reduce fragmentation within the Android ecosystem and offer an overreaching agreement for all Android smartphone makers.

"The best way forward for Android would be for Google, as the creator and main beneficiary of the platform, to negotiate global (in the sense of benefiting all device makers alike) license deals with right holders," Muller wrote.

While Mueller's idea could hold some weight, other analysts argue that the Apple and Google feud has become too heated for an agreement. According to principal analyst for the Enderle Group Rob Enderle, the Google/Apple relationship has become too personal for a future deal.

"Apple doesn't feel HTC ripped them off intentionally, like they do Samsung, so Apple was much more willing to settle reasonably," Enderle told V3.

"They are likely to go down a similar path with any Android user that isn't [closely tied to] Google. With HTC it isn't personal, with Google and Samsung it is."