If Apple wins, DOJ gets to turn around and push legislation mandating backdoors on the basis that terrorists are winning in their courts. The public will eat it up, because who the hell wants to side with some guy that murdered 20+ people in San Bernardino?
Conversely, if Apple loses, there are no real lasting effects. Encrypted phones are the new norm, and the 5C is weaker than its successors. If Apple actually can't undermine the encryption (ie: like the newer iPhones), the courts can't force them to do anything. The precedent of being able to force them to undermine underminable phones is meaningless.
If Apple wins, DOJ gets to turn around and push legislation mandating backdoors on the basis that terrorists are winning in their courts. The public will eat it up, because who the hell wants to side with some guy that murdered 20+ people in San Bernardino?
Conversely, if Apple loses, there are no real lasting effects. Encrypted phones are the new norm, and the 5C is weaker than its successors. If Apple actually can't undermine the encryption (ie: like the newer iPhones), the courts can't force them to do anything. The precedent of being able to force them to undermine underminable phones is meaningless.
The thing to fear is legislation.