In general, large companies don't bring software patent lawsuits against competitors to prevent competition. Large companies bring software patent suits against competitors to win cross-licensing agreements; to get something their competitor has. (And counter-suits are typically about trying to block such a forced cross-licensing)
The exceptions to this process are notable as being exceptions.
So I'm not sure why everyone automatically assumes Apple has the 'evil'[1] motive for patent prosecution.
What I wonder, is whether the license HTC has to Nokia's GSM patents is transferable. That is: could Apple be forcing a cross-licensing agreement with HTC, to end-run Nokia's lawsuit against them?
[1] that is: suing to strangle competition. e.g. Amazon
That's really my thinking. Since some of the patents in question against HTC are the same patents in question against Nokia, I wonder if the HTC move is just to strengthen the claims against Nokia. If Android is hurt in the process, Apple doesn't care.
The exceptions to this process are notable as being exceptions.
So I'm not sure why everyone automatically assumes Apple has the 'evil'[1] motive for patent prosecution.
What I wonder, is whether the license HTC has to Nokia's GSM patents is transferable. That is: could Apple be forcing a cross-licensing agreement with HTC, to end-run Nokia's lawsuit against them?
[1] that is: suing to strangle competition. e.g. Amazon