But if Tim Cook's overarching strategy is to stand down from the promised Android annihilation he inherited, save us all from the grinding weariness of arcane patent disputes and dishearten lawyers around the world, and if he executes a new strategic exchange of legal fees for licensing revenue, he will have truly taken the mantle of innovation -- boardroom innovation, at least -- and changed Apple forever.

ENGADGET: Editorial: A conciliatory Apple would be real innovation

Mr. Alioto never contacted the police, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any State licensing division, never filed suit against Mr. Ratzenberger, and never had any written contract between himself and Mr. Ratzenberger.

FORBES: Cliff Is Not a Thief

Or they can sell the licensing rights for a product in exchange for an investment.

FORBES: Magazine Article

My guess is the various owners of the intellectual property leaking onto the Internet will admit defeat and form an uber-licensing agency, like ASCAP, that will collect a monthly fee in exchange for nearly universal access to music, movies and other forms of entertainment.

FORBES: Magazine Article

American Express earns revenues from card licensing fees, royalties on billings, charge volume, net spread revenue and cards in force, foreign exchange conversion revenue and also a share of the discount revenue earned by the operator.

FORBES: Quick Take