[JoeBracken]

As Apple the hardware company continues to invest in their software ecosystem and begins to count on non-hardware revenue the threat from Google increases. I believe that Apple has proven that they are playing the long game while enjoying successes of the short game. Given what apple has done with just iTunes alone shows they are easily looking out 10 years and beyond.

I don't think it's fear. In the battle of who's ecosystem a consumer will select for their desktop/laptop/mobile/web/music/video experience, snagging these patents could serve as a very nice speed-bump for Google. Every consumer who buys an iPhone or iPad over an Android device, is one more consumer that is more likely to commit to Apples ecosystem of software and services over Google's.