Eh? Do patents necessarily have to follow the law?

…no? They are ideas.

They are also a legal construct to organize business uses and control of ideas around.

Hence a patent and the patent system are a legal framework.

Legal frameworks are often involved in things that later end up being determined to be illegal.

Large businesses usually like to set up some kind of comprehensive legal framework before they roll out a new product or feature.

Not saying they will. I am saying setting up a legal framework is usually groundwork before you do though.