Apple's Billion Dollar Patent & Other Stories From Patentland

DECS writes "It has been widely reported that Apple secured a patent worth a "billion dollars." According to a patent attorney involved in the issue, Apple will be "after every phone company, film maker, computer maker and video producer to pay royalties." The good news is that all the news reports were based on misleading hyperbole. " Don't let the title fool you; the essay is a good background on patents, the horror stories of some of them but also why companies feel compelled to seek patents as a business "safety" precaution.

Comments

Re:Apple got a patent on not playing games

[daverabbitz]

and the PowerMac severely undercuts a comparable PC (even if you build it yourself!). No it doesn't. Typical Mac distortion field at work.

An example of Mac pricing, have a look at Apple's 30" Cinema LCD, then have a look at Dell's *identical* OEM part, which is just over half the price. And in NZ Dell give you a "free" GFX card "worth" $900NZ with it (quotes added to signify that you are in fact paying for them, it's just included in the price).

And don't tell me the Apple display is better, because they are made from the exact same OEM LCD, the only difference is the Apple one has an ugly silver (white?) frame, whereas the Dell comes in an unobtrusive black.