Why all the recent fuss about patents? Well, along with stifling innovation, patents can cost a company millions! Illustrating the point, Goldman Sachs' tech analyst team calculates that Samsung, HTC
and other phone manufacturers will have to pay Microsoft about $444 million in Android patent deals for fiscal year 2012 (from July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012). "Goldman estimates that Microsoft
is getting $3-$6 per Android device sold," Business Insider reports. "With settlements from Samsung, HTC and others, Goldman arrives at its estimate."
In this scenario, however, not even
Microsoft is a winner, Business Insider insists. "Sounds good for Microsoft, but really, it's an empty victory," it writes, noting that Microsoft's revenue for fiscal 2012 is estimated to be $75
billion. "So, the money it gets from Android is almost nothing, especially when you consider the incredible damage Android is doing to Microsoft's dominance as a computing platform."
Read the whole story at Business Insider »