Apple is infamous for filing lawsuits against anyone who threatens to copy one of its many pieces of kit. But the late Steve Jobs' multi-million dollar company wasn't always so overprotective.
Prior to the release of the iPhone Apple rarely patented its products. That was until it dropped $100 million in a lawsuit over the iPod back in 2006. From then on, Jobs held monthly "invention disclosure sessions" where a lawyer would decide if they could patent whatever products were being worked on at the time. Even if the idea couldn't be patented they'd still file an application to stop anyone else filing one instead.
Since then the company has launched wave after wave of lawsuits against other companies, individuals and even entire cities.
Here are some of the biggest.
5. Apple vs. Bloggers
In 2004 an Apple employee allegedly leaked details about upcoming products online. Apple sued bloggers who published the information and demanded to know who gave them the details.
Who won? Apple, then the bloggers. At first the bloggers lost, but when they appealed the California Court of Appeals ruled they counted as journalists, and as such did not lawfully have to reveal their sources.
4. Apple vs. Samsung
Apple unsleashed an onslaught of lawsuits against viral phone company Samsung in 2012 claiming the Korean manufacturer had copied many of its design innovations.
Who won? Apple--well, in the US at least. The judge ruled that Samsung had violated a range of Apple's patents including its signature "tap-to-zoom" feature and awarded the company over $1 billion in damages. In England however, they lost the case and had to write Samsung a public apology.
3. Apple vs. Department of Justice
The US Department of Justice turned the tables on Apple last year when it accused the company of conspiring with publishers to raise the price of e-books. Publishers didn't like Amazon's discount prices for digital versions of books and the DOJ believed Apple helped them switch to its iBooks store and charge higher prices.
Who won? Department of Justice. Apple was indeed found to have conspired with major book publishers, but a second trial will be needed to determine the damages. Unsurprisingly Apple has vowed to keep on fighting.
2. Apple vs. New York City
The iPhone manufacturer received a slew of bad press for taking New York City to court in 2008. They claimed the city's new "Big Apple" logo, made to promote a sustainability iniviative, looked too much like its own.
Who won? Nobody. Apple withdrew the case after NYC agreed to slightly alter their logo to remove any resemblance to Apple's one.
1. Apple vs. Carl Sagan
When Apple engineers codenamed their 1994 Power Macintosh 7100 "Carl Sagan," the late astronomer thought it would be misconstrued as an endorsement and asked them to change it. Apple complied, instead codenaming it "BHA", short for "butt-headed astronomer". When Sagan found out he sued them claiming it damaged his reputation.
Who won? Apple. A judge dismissed Sagan's claims, saying "one does not seriously attack the expertise of a scientist using the undefined phrase 'butt-head'." Sagan appealed, lost, then he appealed again. In the end he settled for an undisclosed sum, and Apple changed the codename again, this time to "LaW", short for "Lawyers are Wimps".
