Apple today announced their fiscal results, but far more interesting was the exchange between analysts and Tim Cook on the conference call when asked about competition from Android and Palm's new Pre smartphone.

"We approach this business as a software platform business. We are watching the landscape. We like competition as long as they don’t rip off our IP. And if they do, we will go after anyone who does."

Cook was pressed if he were referring to the "multi-touch" capable Palm Pre that was announced at CES to rave reviews and winner of CNET's Best In Show. "I don’t want to talk about any specific company, said Cook. We are ready to suit up and go against anyone. However, we will not stand for having our IP ripped off."

Apple holds patents on multi-touch, something representatives Palm bristled at when asked at CES responding that multi-touch technology has been around for years prior to the iPhone.

via TechCrunch