You'd be right, if it weren't for the small fact that the world doesn't really work that way...
Apple is the perfect example of this. Supposedly everyone is copying their GRAND HARD EARNED INNOVATIONS (notice the use of caplocks for emphasis). If what you were saying is true, shouldn't they be suffering, barely holding on to solvency? I mean they can't reap the benefits of their hard work if everyone keeps stealing from them, right? What's the point of doing anything at all?
I guess you've got a point, so long as you ignore the fact Apple is currently the richest company in the tech industry with $100 billion in the bank, beloved by the media, and the (I daresay) apple of the public eye. It looks like they've reaped quite a few benefits from their hard work. So where's the suffering?
Plus, your argument only works if you assume the patents were, in fact, stolen. As in the patented ideas were truly unique, and lifted wholesale from Apple. The truth is, most of their patents are for little tweaks and additions to previously patented ideas that were somehow granted protection themselves. Apple rarely ever invents. They tweak and perfect other ideas, then take credit as their inventors. It's like getting a patent on the idea of the lightbulb because you managed to improve a previous design by making it rounder and slightly brighter, then tell everyone how awesome you are for coming up with such a novel concept.
In all honesty, Apple abuses other companies as much as they accuse others of abusing them, and abuse the patent system for their own benefit rather than their protection. You can slather you patent argument with as many Steve Jobs buzzwords as you want, it doesn't change the fact it's a fairly lame argument.
On a serious note, I get the reason for protecting intellectual property. I'm just wondering when all this will be finished. It's a shame that it's even an issue in the first place. Cheers.
