A few people have been asking about why Nvidia isn't suing PowerVR or Imagination - the answer is they probably can't. Those companies license technology to Samsung/Qualcomm. Even if you assume Nvidia is 100% right about the infringement of their patents, Imagination only licensed Imagination technology. They aren't selling a product that infringes Nvidia's patents, they are selling basically a design - their own intellectual property. It is the finished product that actually infringes Nvidia's patents. Meanwhile Nvidia's claim is roughly that whatever the license situation between Imagination and Qualcomm/Samsung, to sell the allegedly infringing SOCs requires a license. Since Qualcomm/Samsung are selling the SOCs, they are the natural one to sue.
That's all admittedly a guess, but Nvidia's lawyers are some of the top patent lawyers in the country. They picked their defendants for a reason, and from a legal perspective I bet that's at least part of it.
Also why not Apple? Three possibilities: 1. Apple took a license and did so under an NDA; 2. Apple is a big Nvidia customer they don't want to piss off; 3. Apple is next but for some reason they decided it's easier to start with Qualcomm/Samsung.
That's all admittedly a guess, but Nvidia's lawyers are some of the top patent lawyers in the country. They picked their defendants for a reason, and from a legal perspective I bet that's at least part of it.
Also why not Apple? Three possibilities: 1. Apple took a license and did so under an NDA; 2. Apple is a big Nvidia customer they don't want to piss off; 3. Apple is next but for some reason they decided it's easier to start with Qualcomm/Samsung.
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