Web_Savvy - 7:14 pm on Dec 30, 2006 (gmt 0)

At times it could all boil down to corporate strategy.

Sometimes, IP rights, including patents can be used as means of defense rather than offence.

A competitor sues you for something, you sue them back under the pretext of some patent violation or the other (there could be many grey areas). Then, settle out of court and back to business as usual. ;-)

Wierd though it may sound, sh^t happens. :-)