What are Apple’s main patent positions? Are they hardware architectural based, operating system and software based, or both? How long do these patents stay in effect? Drugs and medical devices have finite patent durations. How does it work in IT?
If I knew how anything worked in IT I wouldn’t need a seamless operating system like Apple.
All of those...but they have their market share....and they aggressively periodically bring out solid improvements...some wise guy or groups of wiseguys will eventually make a better product with less market(user) controlling tendencies. I think the android device makers do.the same....but apple is the smuggest self righteous group IMHO...and the common users seem to be oblivious of how the devices work...and the quality and ease of use keep them buying apple.
ALL patents, no matter the subject, have a maximum term of 20 years from the filing date. Of course, many are abandoned at earlier dates when the tech has moved on or for other reasons (e.g., costs).