The point of patents is to let larger companies produce products with your idea for a modest fee. You provide the world with an in-depth description of the thin

The point of patents is to let larger companies produce products with your idea for a modest fee. You provide the world with an in-depth description of the thing you've come up with, so everyone can benefit, and in return you get to profit off your idea through license fees rather than just giving your idea away. Apple pays tons of patent fees in all sorts of areas so tons of companies. They just thought this company was small enough that they could bully them into not having to pay. When that failed, they tried to crush them and force their hand. While I'm against software patents on principle, Apple acting like some kind of stereotypical 80s movie evil corporation infuriates me just as much.