Apple has to protect its trademarks and patents when it thinks they're being violated. Otherwise, they're worthless.

Yes, there is "I'm protecting my patents" and there is "I AM OZYMANDIAS! LOOK UPON MY MIGHTY PATENTS AND DO MY BIDDING OR YOU WILL BE DESTROYED!" It's often hard to tell which is which from reports in the press. :-/

E.g. Samsung isn't a tiny upstart.

Cheers,
Scott.