I dont know why people dont getting the reality of the whole patent thing. If apple not patenting things, someone other does and come back to kick apple in the nuts. Its just one of the many legal capitalism games. Stop the patent laws and nobody does it. Just simple as that. If Samsung or Google would lead the mobile Race, they would act the same (and they do already).
>If apple not patenting things, someone other does...
No, not at all. Patents are only granted if there's no prior art and as such if apple uses anything (such as slide to unlock) in one of their devices without patenting it that also removes the possibility for anyone else to patent it.
>If Samsung or Google would lead the mobile Race...
There are already more android devices than iOS devices. Google also leads in various other internet spaces and isn't nearly as aggressive patent-wise as Apple.
You're right that patent reform is the real solution, but I don't think it's us who "dont [sic] get the reality of the whole patent thing" but you.