For those who came in late, Apple and Qualcomm are at each other’s throats because Qualcomm insists that Apple pays money for its licences and Apple thinks it should decide how much it should pay, because it is Apple.

The Tame Apple Press is firmly on the side of Apple because it is their favourite and Qualcomm, when it goes against Apple, clearly does not like Coldplay and smells of Nintendo.

This week, the President of Qualcomm’s licensing division, Derek Aberle handed in his notice. Normally no one would have cared, but the Tame Apple Press has come up with an insinuation that he was sacked for taking on Apple.

“As the Qualcomm executive leading the ongoing legal battle with Apple, the timing of Aberle’s exit is questionable to say the least. After 17 years at the company Aberle will leave for good in December, following a four-month handover to current QTL head Alex Rogers”, roared PCR.

We wonder if that sentence was checked by legal before it was posted as we thought that PCR was going to provide some evidence that Aberle had left under a cloud. It is pretty clear that he had not and PCR had no facts than its faith in Apple.

We would have thought after 17 years in one company any senior executive would be thinking of heading for greener pastures. If Aberle was sacked for taking on Apple, then why was he not escorted from the building, why is he sticking around for FOUR MONTHS to hand over to his replacement?

Aberle has had a brilliant career in Qualcomm. Recently he was seen playing a crucial part in recent licensing negotiations with the Chinese government and local manufacturers and getting them off Qualcomm's back. 

Observing the Apple verus Qualcomm case we have yet to see any evidence that it was “mishandled by Aberle”. 

Indeed the tone of the announcement suggested his exit was amicable.  He got the official thank you from CEO Steven Mollenkopf which certainly would not have happened if there were any questionable reasons for his exit.

“I want to thank Derek for the vision, creativity, dedication, and judgment he brought to the company and wish him all the best in the future”, Mollenkopf said.

Aberle also got a chance to comment, which the PR department would not have allowed if there were dark and sinister reasons for his exit. Aberle  said he was "very proud to have been a part of Qualcomm’s tradition of innovation, and of all that we’ve been able to accomplish during my tenure".

It does not sound like someone who was leaving because he could not handle taking on the Apple cult, does it?