Originally Posted by input

all that means is those companies prior to Fingerworks may use their technology in their applications without fear of reprisal, since they demonstrated prior use. If those companies didn't patent their multi-touch, Apple has free roam on everyone else (excl. cern, bell labs et al) to force licensing.

If Fingerworks held the patent and Apple bought Fingerworks, Apple "invented" multitouch and holds the patent. That is the one of the whole strategic reasons companies buy out others