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Thanks - that's dreadful. It always seemed remarkable that Apple was able to come up with a leading GPU architecture without in some way infringing someones' IP

Thanks - that's dreadful. It always seemed remarkable that Apple was able to come up with a leading GPU architecture without in some way infringing someones' IP (and that would be most likely to be Imagination's given the circumstances). I guess taking your biggest (ex)customer to court isn't something that any company would do lightly especially when that company has the deepest pockets in the world and you're not in the best financial position yourself. It's a shame that more light can't be shed in the press - if Apple cares about one thing it's their brand.

barnacled 6y ago
No IMG would have happily taken them to court it just wasn't financially viable and apple have effectively infinite resources. IMG were fools to rely on apple so much but this isn't a new development. Apple have repeatedly done this same process to a number of suppliers. There was a good website that listed all of the offices apple opened near suppliers before cutting them off, but it went offline :( IMG should have been much more careful but instead went all-in splashing the cash they got from apple and acting like it was forever. Pretty dumb. Apple can rely on the media giving them positive coverage. At the time I was amazed at even how much benefit of the doubt even the BBC gave them (US company bankrupting a UK one you'd think they'd back the UK one eh?) I was also amused to be 'inside' a story discussed on HN, and unsurprised at how far off many were. Tons of apple rationalisation syndrome as usual and lots of 'how dare IMG be so arrogant' etc. The reality is Apple are extremely ruthless and have been trying to take control of everything for quite some time now.