> This only changes things if manufacturers start making 'empty' phones and require users to download and install their own free operating system.

Actually this is a very good idea. Phones could be sold with just a tiny 'installer' that downloads the OS directly from Google.

The first benefit would be that there is no software to sue the phone makers about. Microsoft, RIM and Apple would have to sue Google itself.

The second benefit would be that the phone uses stock Android, not modified with crapware.