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This is why both Apple and Google spend more money on their legal departments than they do on research. Our system is broken and has been almost from the time of its inception. Unfortunately, it is not any more likely to be fixed than it would be for Obama to balance the budget. There are too many lawyers living off the fruits of the true innovators; they will ensure that no meaningful reform is ever made.p> Your first sentence is total BS, fireman15. Apple and Google do not spend more money on their legal departments than on research. Apple spent under $375 million on legal defense expenses in 2014, which was admittedly very high, however they spend a lot more on Research.

Apple's Research and Development spending in 2014 *

Quarter Ending	Amount Invested
March 31, 2014	$ 1.422 Billion
June 30, 2014	$ 1.603 Billion
September 30, 2014	$ 1.686 Billion
December 31, 2014	$ 1.895 Billion
TOTAL INVESTED IN R&D 2014	$ 6.606 Billion

* Source: Apple Inc 10-Qs for 2014

Your first sentence is total BS, fireman15. Apple and Google do not spend more money on their legal departments than on research. Apple spent under $375 million on legal defense expenses in 2014, which was admittedly very high, however they spend a lot more on Research.

I did not mean any offense Swordmaker. I have always valued your advice and the knowledge that you have of Apple products. I was strictly quoting from articles that I have read on multiple occasions all of which have indicated that Apple is spending far, far more than $375 million on their legal team. To be honest I am completely baffled by your figure. Are you carefully choosing your words by saying “legal defense” which may have a more specific meaning than legal team? If so then shame on you.

First I would bring this article to your attention:

http://gizmodo.com/5949909/apple-and-google-spent-more-money-on-legal-fees-than-rd-last-year-and-google-apparently-thinks-apple-wants-it-that-way

Has Apple slashed their legal teams budget and thrown hundreds of hapless ambulance chasers back out on the streets? It doesn't appear so... I will bring to your attention an article that headlines that Apples legal budget increased to $3.4 billion dollars in 2012:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/31/apples-rd-spending-climbs-1-billion-to-3-4-billion-during-fy-2012/

Then here is another article from CNET that claims that Apples legal budget increased and additional 32% from 2102 to 2013 to $4.5 billion but they say that their rivals Microsoft and Google spent even more.

http://www.cnet.com/news/apples-r-d-up-32-percent-in-2013-still-dwarfed-by-rivals/

This article of course also makes my point, without intending any disrespect to Apple. My contention is that our legal system is broken and we have many of our society's most talented people squandering their time and effort trying to either rip each other off or defending against those who are using the system to rip other people off. If I am being misled by a vast body of the evidence that would seem to refute your statements then please explain.