That article is kind of confusing. It implies from the start that the patent is on the touch screen (hardware) itself, which isn't even possible because Apple doesn't even make touch screen displays. The patent is actually for the multi-touch abilities, which is a code/programming patent. They are trying to stop other manufacturers from being able to incorporate things like pinch to zoom without paying them. I suspect all the other manufacturers will end up complying and just paying.
What I don't get is Apple's lawsuit against Samsung for "copying" their user interface. Let's face it, if the Samsung Touch Whiz were a copy of the Apple iOS, either people would like Touch Whiz, people would like both, or people would hate both. I think the fact that Touch Whiz is mostly despised in the Android world pretty much confirms that it is not a copy. EIther that or all the iPhone/iPad users are seriously in denial... I bet Samsung is glad it revved up it's chip making for Apple now!