There is a lot of buzz in the verse that Apple is now evil because it is suing HTC over patents. They are saying things like Apple is showing signs of being terrified of Google, or Apple is acting like other companies and stifling innovation, or Apple is the devil (Ok, I made the last one up).
I think Apple was forced into it. When it comes to patents and copyrights, in the US at least, holders are required to show the efforts they make to protect them. And the only way to do that is to sue. If someone else uses one of your patents or copyrights in the future, and you did nothing in the past to protect them, then they can claim that you did not do anything to protect it, and therefore they could use it.
Its a Judge Dredd moment - its the law.
It's stupid. But its how the law is interpreted. I believe the reason they sued HTC is because its not Google, a partner that they do not wish to anger. HTC will settle, for a small yet face saving amount, and everybody wins. Apple proves that it has protected its patents in case someone really steals them, and life goes on.
And everyone seems to be suing everyone else in that space at the moment anyway. Staying out of the fray is not an option anymore.
The Hiltmon has left the website.
