

Apple patent application  (Source: Apple Insider)

Apple patent application  (Source: Apple Insider)










Sources: CNET, Apple Insider

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RE: Idea?
By Tony Swash on 12/23/2011 7:09:43 PM , Rating: -1
I am sorry - it's late and I clicked the wrong button and posted an incomplete post by mistake. Here is final version of my comment.

Unless one is obtuse I would have thought that the difference between a tactic and a strategic aim is fairly clear. One is a means to get to what is desired, a tactic is a mechanism to achieve a desired end but is not the end itself.

Apple put a lot of effort into making very distinctive products and having a very distinctive brand, that is why when they think people are copying their products and when they think they have a patent that covers it they will sue. As part of the legal process and in order to induce their competitors to remove the offending copied item they will use the threat or actuality of a legal product ban where it is available.

Although a ban might fortuitously (from Apple's point of view) temporarily prevent one or more of their competitors from selling in various markets they know that there is absolutely not the remotest chance that they could prevent their competitors from selling competing products for any length of time, or even permanently. To pursue such a strategy, of seeking a permanent legal ban, would be a ludicrous strategy and Apple's corporate leadership seem to be anything but ludicrous, they seem (based on their recent track record) to be rather good at their jobs.

So I think the most rational analysis of Apple's motivations and strategy is the one I, along with many other commentators on other sites, have put forward which is that Apple wants to ensure through a persistent and attritional legal campaign that their competitors are deterred from copying the general appearance of Apple's products as well as some of the distinctive parts of it's product design.

Whatever the outcome of any individual legal case unless Apple loses every single one (which seems unlikely) then Apple will probably succeed. But it will take a while. This is going to be a long war.

RE: Idea?

