The rise of the smartphone has brought with it a growth in patent litigation between the various firms as they attempt to prevent their competitors copying their technologies and designs.
The most famous web of lawsuits were those between Apple and Samsung with more than a billion dollars at stake, but all the major tech firms have been involved in lawsuits in recent years. Microsoft has perhaps been the most successful, with most Android smartphone manufacturers paying them a patent licensing fee, meaning they earn profits from their competitors producing gadgets!
Source: Protect Your Bubble