It's clear that both Microsoft and Apple are pulling the strings. They didn't collectively spend $4.5 billion to just have Rockstar do whatever they want. (Not that creating a patent troll under any scenario is morally defensible for Microsoft or Apple).
The shell games provide them plausible deniability only to naive.
They sued Android. Android is a big threat to both Microsoft and Apple.
In case you didn't read the article I linked, the CEO of Rockstar created these licensing programs while they were still Nortel-owned and has been in negotiations for years before Rockstar was formed. This was a long time coming and all the potential infringers knew it, which was why the auction was in the billions of dollars.
They sued Android. Android is a big threat to both Microsoft and Apple.
Rockstar sued some Android phone makers because it infringes their patents and they don't have a license. Note that they didn't sue Sony, who makes Android phones, because Sony, being part of the consortium, has paid for those patents.
It's clear that both Microsoft and Apple are pulling the strings. They didn't collectively spend $4.5 billion to just have Rockstar do whatever they want. (Not that creating a patent troll under any scenario is morally defensible for Microsoft or Apple).
The shell games provide them plausible deniability only to naive.
They sued Android. Android is a big threat to both Microsoft and Apple.
Coincidence? I don't think so.