This is a common misconception but actually Apple Inc. (the US corporation) is the sole owner of the legal rights to Apple's intellectual property. The economic

This is a common misconception but actually Apple Inc. (the US corporation) is the sole owner of the legal rights to Apple's intellectual property. The economic rights are split between Apple Inc. (for sales occurring in the Americas) and Apple's Irish subsidiaries (for sales occurring outside the Americas) but the IP itself remains in the United States. Source: Apple's Congressional hearing from a few years ago