Unlike Steve Jobs, who famously declared he'd wage all-out war against Google's Android operating system in the courts, Apple CEO Tim Cook once called Apple's smartphone and tablet battles a "pain in the ass." The company's deal this weekend with HTC ought to grant some relief.

The settlement announced Tuesday between AP and the street artist who used an AP photo to create an iconic image of President Obama is a near-total win for the news organization, which will share rights to Fairey's image going forward. Now the AP is going after the company that sold clothing bearing the image Fairey created.

Tampa plaintiffs lawyer C. Steven Yerrid, who represented Florida in its $11 billion settlement with the tobacco industry, is working pro bono to advise Gov. Charlie Crist on legal issues related to the spill. Other trial lawyers are lining up to offer their assistance, too, he said. "The other side is already lawyered up with the best talent that unlimited money can buy."

Just weeks after Verizon and T-Mobile stood up for Samsung in its San Jose federal district court fight with Apple, Google and T-Mobile are doing the same for HTC in its battle with Apple before the U.S. International Trade Commission.

At the first annual "Bright Lights" intellectual property conference, Erich Spangenberg and Paul Ryan discussed their strategies.