If Samsung, HTC, Motorola and others took software patents seriously then they wouldn't spend so much $$$ challenging Apple in court trying to get them invalidated. They should of just said "OK, you've got the patent - how much do you want to license it" or "OK, we'll remove the offending feature".
Companies aren't taking software patents seriously until AFTER they lose a battle in court.
And, again, that's a hasty generalization based solely on one company (Google) and its licensees. Software patents, in general, are not avoided as much as you suggest. The very fact that hundreds of millions (if not billions) of cell phones are in use that contain licensed FRAND patents establishes that obviously a lot of people DO pay attention to software patents.
Furthermore, it doesn't change the fact that you were wrong when you said that they were invalid the day they were issued and only became valid if challenged in court.
With that said, about half of all patents adjudicated in a court case are found invalid in whole or part. That's an excellent reason not to take a license just because someone says they have a valid patent and it's being infringed. Apple won't roll over and remove features either just because someone comes along with an IP lawsuit.
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And, again, that's a hasty generalization based solely on one company (Google) and its licensees. Software patents, in general, are not avoided as much as you suggest. The very fact that hundreds of millions (if not billions) of cell phones are in use that contain licensed FRAND patents establishes that obviously a lot of people DO pay attention to software patents.
Furthermore, it doesn't change the fact that you were wrong when you said that they were invalid the day they were issued and only became valid if challenged in court.
With that said, about half of all patents adjudicated in a court case are found invalid in whole or part. That's an excellent reason not to take a license just because someone says they have a valid patent and it's being infringed. Apple won't roll over and remove features either just because someone comes along with an IP lawsuit.