Related-ish: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12538224 Apple trying to patent a paper bag!
They have a freaking patent on converting different data types, patent US7886264B1 [1]
Even though Apple has never acted as a patent troll, it doesn't mean their patent portfolio isn't potentially harmful and it could be used as such some time soon to maximize profits.
It wouldn't be the first time a once very successful company makes good profits by charging licensing fees on things way far away of their product line. I'm looking at you Microsoft... [2]
[1]: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7886264B1 [2]: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2015/11/01/microsoft-...
What is patented is not "a paper bag", but their particular method for constructing a paper bag.
Is their method obvious? Perhaps not.