If you all notice in all the articles reporting about this payout/licensing deal, all of them do not know exactly which Microsoft patent HTC (indirectly Google) has infringe upon. Why? Because it was likely to be settled out of court and made confidential. No one talks about the sum which could be small or big or a certain figure that is strategically sound to HTC. HTC seem to have obliged by paying Microsoft without any fight. That article above may very well spell the out its strategy to avoid Apple.

One might want to think, if HTC can settle a licensing deal with Microsoft, why wouldn't it do the same with Apple? Instead, Apple went to court with HTC. Its simple. While Microsoft exercised their patent rights it allowed HTC to use its patent over a fee, Apple simply don't want anyone to use any of its technologies. So they sue.

If you ask me whole's the devil, Apple is and it is a distraction and obstacle to industry innovation. Some day, antitrust police will knock their doors.