Patent aggressor and branding company Apple has been wanting and practically trying to tax Android while dodging its own tax responsibilities, as even the BBC tells readers. Microsoft does the same thing (don't expect the BBC to cover it), but Congress does not seem to mind it so much. At USA Today there is a cult of personalities. Pamela Jones says "Congress are technically know-nothings, yet they take on themselves the oversight of tech. It's Alice in Wonderland "off with their heads" level of oversight, and for any tech folks, it's unbearable. Congress needs help to understand the tech *before* they hold hearings, so they don't look so foolish."

"Samsung is easily outselling Apple’s phones, so bans through the ITC are Apple’s main strategy, not just against Samsung. "Apple's attack on the S4 (leading Linux-powered, records-breaking phone) seeks a ban and coverage from Megan Geuss about this leads Jones to saying: "Apple is not backing down, obviously, and it raises two questions: are the patents even valid? and is this just about harassment rather than actual concern about patents?"

Samsung is easily outselling Apple's phones, so bans through the ITC are Apple's main strategy, not just against Samsung. Motorola, for instance, is appealing the ITC ruling on Apple [PDF]. Remember that it was Apple which started it all (litigation with FRAND and misuse of ITC sanctions), seemingly in collusion with Microsoft. ⬆