Apple’s misleading statement is a pointer to a change in gameplan in its chip souring strategy.

In a development that essentially pins down Apple CEO Tim Cook’s lie, Qualcomm Inc’s spokesperson made it bluntly clear that Cook’s comment that there was no recent settlement talks between the Apple and Qualcomm were “misleading.”

“We have been consistent for the last 18 months in making clear that we have, at various times, been in discussions with Apple about a possible resolution to our licensing dispute,” said Qualcomm’s spokesperson.

On Tuesday, in an interview with CNBC, Cook had said there have not been any discussions to settle a licensing dispute between the companies since the “third calendar quarter of last year.”