Qualcomm takes $1bn BlackBerry bite like a champ, struts away

Huge, if true! This really was breezed over by the article and ought to be expanded on because it suggests:

1. Subcontractors making chips for Apple are incorrectly under reporting how many they make to reduce their license fee payments

2. Subcontractors assembling the final phones are incorrectly under reporting how many phones they make and thus how many chips go into a final product.

3. Subcontractors are incorrectly reporting the level of royalty payments they make to the financial markets in their company reporting, although paying the correct amount to the recipient.

It's not clear from the story which of these is the case (or perhaps mystery option D?) but none of these sound particularly healthy. At best breach of contract, at worst breaking the law. If they get called on this kind of thing will they just say Apple made us do it? What threats incentives have Apple offered to ensure compliance plus no comeback on them?

If, as the story implies, Apple are encouraging/forcing their subcontractors to behave like this then there's a serious story there. Come on El Reg - you're not going to get invited to any of their events so you might as well dig some dirt!