Apple is one of the most valuable companies on the planet.
Why are they just outright stripping this feature instead of just paying the patent fee? (As in literally removing the chips, actually stripping it.)
Are the patent fees so astronomical that it would put even Apple Computer, one of the most highly valued companies in existence, in line for bankruptcy? Or am I missing something and this wasn't an option, that the patent owners don't want to be paid, but just to be in control?
If Apple can afford the patent fees, it shows how ridiculously wasteful and petty corporations can choose to be.
If Apple can't afford the patent fees, it's more of an indictment of the patent system itself, if the largest and most valuable company on the planet can be dismantled via patent fees.
Either way, this is a bad fucking look.
a victory for the integrity of the American patent system and the safety of people relying on pulse oximetry.
It's always interesting how patent holders act like this protects people ("safety") when arguably it just denies people access to their functioning patented device, instead possibly relying on devices that don't function as well or no devices at all. Isn't it less safe to not be using an industry-standard?