Liquidmetal Technologies Inc (LQMT)

[technichart]

If Apple wants a 3rd party to manufacture BMG parts for them, that manufacturer will need equipment and material. Apple's right to the IP does not = free material from Materion or free machines from Engel. Of course Apple has access to the IP so they can develop their own material or equipment sources or do it in house but I suspect they would chose to stick with known entities. In such a case, I suspect Materion and Engel would pay LQMT royalties that are part of the profit charged to their customers. Apple's right to the IP also does not mean they get free parts produced using the IP. So whoever invests in manufacturing capability to produce parts for Apple will charge them a profit to be negotiated between the parties.

If you look at who is most knowledgeable to initiate production for Apple, it difficult to argue that someone other than LQMT who has never produced such parts before would be in a better position than LQMT.