Bangalore: Patent wars are not a new thing in technology, especially when it relates to Apple. The company’s latest battle is going on with Samsung. But if you thing Apple will indulge in a war with Microsoft over its new Surface tablet, you are probably wrong. Here are the reasons.

Apple has licensed some of its design patents to Microsoft, which include some that are involved in its patent war with Samsung.

Boris Teksler, patent licensing director for Apple mentioned this licensing deal during his testimony in Apple vs. Samsung court trials. He indicated that Apple made a number of patents available for licensing, and had offered Samsung the option to do so, but the company had declined.

He also said that the company has a cross-licensing agreement with Microsoft covering the patents cited in the company’s suit with Samsung. In that agreement Teksler said there were “anti-cloning” provisions that prevent Microsoft from creating copycat products.

Apple had offered to license its portfolio of patents to Samsung in October 2010 at $30 per Smartphone and $40 per tablet. The company also offered Samsung a 20% discount if it chose to cross-license its patent portfolio back to Apple. This was done because Samsung was a strategic supplier to Apple.

Had Samsung would have Accepted, it would have cost it $250 million. Apple is now seeking an astounding $2.5-$2.7 billion from the handset maker in its court case.