Live by the sword, die by the sword. I wonder when Apple, Broadcom, etc., will have enough of these pyrrhic patent lawsuit victories and start lobbying for an end, or at least a major curtailment, of the patent system.
According to economic theory, the ability of a company to sustain profits in the long term is based on having barriers to entry to their market. This kind of patent threat is a barrier to entry, and suffering on the losing end of them is rent on the profit margin that they have been able to sustain.
Therefore, even with these losses, the patent system is worthwhile for them.
Why would Apple care? A billion dollars to them is a speeding ticket. It hurts smaller companies more. One hostile patent lawsuit can tank a startup or sink a small, established company that can't afford to fend it off.
It's the smaller companies that should care and lobby as a collective.
Therefore, even with these losses, the patent system is worthwhile for them.