Apple’s winning of a key touch-screen patent this morning could give the company some of its biggest ammo yet when it comes to both fending off and going after technology rivals in the courtroom.
Apple is no stranger to legal battles, but the company is a relative newcomer to the mobile-phone business, and has extended its reach into that space with mobile devices like the iPad. Apple’s success has made it an increasingly larger target, and a player that needs to defend its turf. Patents make up a huge part of that.
Now’s as good a time as any to take a quick look at some of Apple’s mobile-related patent squabbles over the past several years with companies large and small.