Apple, Samsung Declare Peace

Aside from enriching lawyers, was there any benefit to this extended dispute? While this drained company's coffers ( and whatever they would have funded instead) was there direct harm from the dispute? I'm trying to find a reasonable perspective despite my unreasonably low (re: forming an opinion ) specific knowledge.

It is interesting to think about these trans-national corporations fighting wars and then signing peace treaties. Used to be only nation states did that.

Apple needs to focus on Qualcomm, and that is why it is time to end the case with Samsung once and for all.<p>On one hand Qualcomm CEO have said it is all about the cost of patents, and they will very likely settle out of court. Downplaying whatever damage there is, on the other hand they don&#x27;t seem like they will settle.<p>Another interesting battle looming.

Definitely padded the bank accounts of a bunch of law firms though.

&gt; Apple said after its May victory that the case “has always been about more than money” and “it is important that we continue to protect the hard work and innovation of so many people at Apple.”<p>So...is that what was accomplished here?

I have personally become weary of ridiculous patents over extremely trivial items that the average person considers obvious. These pissing contest stifle new and improved technologies built upon older ideas and makes it impossible for new startups to enter the field.<p>The entire idea of patents is sound, but the rules we play by need to be revised... hopefully our nations lawmakers will one day see how destructive the current rules are.

I have to wonder if Apple got Samsung to reduce the cost of their displays in the deal. Or the ability to license the tech to build them themselves. Just a complete shot in the dark but I could see Apple seeing that as a huge win.

TLDR; Apple and Samsung seem to be tired of fighting this fight, so they settled. They have each spent hundreds of millions in legal fees on the ordeal and they avoid spending hundreds of millions more by settling the ordeal, which can go on a long time.

Because the technology and hardware being debated was obsolete.