If only there were an app to explain the industry’s court cases

If only there were an app to help phone users and phonemakers’ shareholders figure out what each twist in the patent battles means. President Barack Obama’s overturning of a US International Trade Commission ban on some of Apple’s products is a big deal in the world of patent policy but will not mean much for phone users or much financially to Apple and its opponent, Samsung Electronics. So why do the two persist with these battles?

Look at the list of pending patent cases on the ITC’s website and a depressing number seem to involve mobile phones and big brands. Mr Obama’s decision has kept alive US sales of some very specific versions of the iPhone 3 and 4, and the iPad 2. This week, the ITC is due to rule on a complaint from Apple involving Samsung and rounded corners on phones – a point discussed at great length in a three-week court battle in California a year ago.