Perhaps I have become jaded or a conspiracy theorist, but I see this as the following:
- the drone space is increasingly easy to enter into
- IBM sees non-tech companies might get into drones
- they identify potential markets where drones would be useful
- they spend minimal resources developing a "prototype" and file for a patent
- Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts come along with coffee delivery drones ~3 years later
- IBM shakes down Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts for $x.00 per delivery, now has new stream of extortion recurring revenue
- the drone space is increasingly easy to enter into - IBM sees non-tech companies might get into drones - they identify potential markets where drones would be useful - they spend minimal resources developing a "prototype" and file for a patent - Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts come along with coffee delivery drones ~3 years later - IBM shakes down Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts for $x.00 per delivery, now has new stream of extortion recurring revenue