[protomyth]

IP is just another form of applause, and with it or without it wouldn't matter or change the behavior. People who want the prestige will rise to the occasion and treat the world as a zero sum game.

[daughart]

This particular piece of IP is probably worth billions of dollars. I think that's a little better than applause.

[anonymfus]

With "intellectual property" (patents in this case) it is a zero sum game.

[protomyth]

They would do it anyway, it just makes it more news worthy given the patents. Although, I'm not sure its zero sum depending on how it shakes out.