This comment frames it in a way that makes it sound like Apple is going to suffer some negative consequences solely because it asserted its own patent rights.

Companies like Microsoft and Nokia collect royalties from companies like Apple and others by threat of patent litigation. By which I am suggesting that the “sword” falls on everyone, not just those who wield it themselves. Thus, it may be true that Apple wielded the sword and also true that Samsung is wielding it against Apple, but we cannot assert that companies who don’t wield the sword won’t find it wielded against them.

I suggest that the underlying problem with the patent situation in a field as complex as technology is that since every non-trivial product seems to infringe on a non-trivial number of patents owned by a wide range of practising and non-practising entities, everyone ends up dying by the sword.

Some pay by the month and die slowly, some resist and may face a more sudden demise.

Good. Now every tech CEO will think twice before starting a patent war. Heck, this stuff might lead to more patent reforms, which are sorely needed. Apple has somehow went from this cool innovative California company, to yet another Chinese manufactured OEM with shitty policies and absurd patent litigation to keep competitors at bay. Their post-Jobs era will be cautionary tale for the industry. Launch patent nukes at your own risk. Sadly, the best we can expect from patents in this day and age is a MAD-like philosophy. First strikes are difficult to deal with, and will result in collateral damages.