What started out as Apple's ambitious attempts to slow down its rivals in a series of litigation cases has turned somewhat sour on its reputation, and doesn't seem to have the intended effect.
Still, despite the lack of success, Apple's suing frenzy ensues after Job's departure. Despite the publicity brought to light of the Apple versus Samsung case, Samsung product sales are skyrocketing and in fact surpassing Apples sales. Overall, the Android adoption rate is outgrowing that of iOS, and now Apple is racing to patent even its most common features.
Admittedly this is a tough case to crack. While Apple seems to be playing the 'victim' since other phone manufacturers have simply copied its best features, it does happen that these features are industry-wide 'best practices.' In a competitive market like smartphone devices, why wouldn't a rival look toward 'best practices' to improve upon its own products?
The other qualm I personally have about these litigation cases is this: While companies like Samsung are actively looking to improve its own products, such as by tailoring its products to international markets and making successes there, and looking to reinvest in the product development based on feedback, Apple would rather spend its cash balance on litigation. Those billions of dollars, in my opinion, would have much better gone to improving its own products rather than trying to stop others from selling their existing products. In the technology space, turnover of new ideas and products is fast. Therefore it is conducive to look toward the future rather than focus on what's done.
I couldn't agree with you more in terms of Apple's litigation rampage. It's a shame to see such an influential company take a retrospective business strategy while it's competitor snatches market dominance with its prospective outlook. Perhaps Apple's litigation tactics are aimed towards buying time for the China Mobile deal to go through, allowing them to swoop on the Asian market.
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