[pyre]

How is it the the license for a handful of patents is equivalent to the license for an entire operating system that incorporates a lot more than just those patents?

It comes out looking something like this:

  license for WP7     (1000 MS patents) = $40/device
  license for Android (6 MS patents)    = $40/device

(obviously the numbers are made-up, but you can get the gist)

"a mobile operating system which incorporates Microsoft technology" is a gross simplification.

[brudgers]

>"How is it the the license for a handful of patents is equivalent to the license for an entire operating system that incorporates a lot more than just those patents?"

Because your question requires an understanding of the ways markets equilibrate, perhaps the Market Economics Fairy can provide an appropriate answer regarding the way in which the market establishes the exchange value of mobile operating systems based on supply and demand.