This sounds like defensive patenting, which is what Microsoft used to do: patenting things to keep them out of the hands of the patent trolls, but not to restr

This sounds like defensive patenting, which is what Microsoft used to do: patenting things to keep them out of the hands of the patent trolls, but not to restrict people from actually using the idea against them. This is not, by itself, a bad thing. In fact, it's good. However, is there any way Apple could change their minds in the future and start wielding the patent against others? To me, that is the danger of granting patents even to people who appear to be acting as a good guy.