[hapasaparaz]

If you applied Apple's intellectual property model to car manufacturing, there would only be one car company, because having 3 (or 2) pedals and a wheel would be a patented control interface... pressing a pedal down for acceleration would be patented... indeed, having 4 wheels and a rounded exterior-on-frame design would be exclusive as well.

Frankly, if Apple's intellectual property model were to be applied to any area of commerce, there would be nothing but monopolies in each niche, and likely would eventually only be one company controlling everything, with no competition possible, as any functions, services, and devices made or provided by that company, would have such ironclad patent protections, that it would be illegal to compete with it.