Google buys more than 1,000 IBM patents
July 30th, 2011 - 12:18 pm ICT by IANSNew York, July 30 (IANS) Google, which last month failed to grab a huge portfolio of Nortel patents, has bought more than 1,000 patents from IBM.
The new purchase boosts Google’s intellectual property portfolio which currently has just 700 patents.
The loss of Nortel patents was a big blow to Google as the search engine was willing to pay any price to beef up its bank of patents - which is the smallest among major wireless players.
Since Nortel-patented technology is also used in Google Android smart phones, the Apple-led consortium have not only got the rights to license this technology to secure royalties but also gain market influence vis-a-vis Google in the multi-trillion-dollar technology field.
As Google is involved in more than 45 patent lawsuits - the biggest against any major player - it is consolidating its patent bank to avoid future litigations.
Google has refused to confirm the price it has paid for IBM patents.
“Like many tech companies, at times we’ll acquire patents that are relevant to our business needs. Bad software patent litigation is a wasteful war that no one will win,” a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying by the LA Times Friday.
Google’ popular Android smart phone operating system is the target of legal challenges. Oracle is seeking billions in damages from Google claiming that Android infringes its Java patents.
Facing so many patent-related lawsuits, Google has urged the US Federal Trade Commission to curb this practice.
“Like many tech companies, at times we’ll acquire patents that are relevant to our business needs. Bad software patent litigation is a wasteful war that no one will win,” the Google spokesperson was quoted a saying.
- Google suffers major blow in Nortel patent loss - Jul 04, 2011
- Apple, Intel join Google in bidding for Nortel patents - Jun 28, 2011
- Apple-led group buys Nortel patents for $4.5 bn - Jul 02, 2011
- Google gets approval for $900-million bid for Nortel patents - May 03, 2011
- Nortel patent sales okayed by US, Canadian courts - Jul 12, 2011
- BlackBerry to bid for Nortel patents to stop Google - Apr 19, 2011
- Oracle sues Google for patent and copyright infringement with its Android operating system - Aug 14, 2010
- Google offers to buy Nortel patents for $900 million - Apr 05, 2011
- Microsoft reaches patent deal with LG - Jan 13, 2012
- Google Locks Horns With Oracle, Microsoft Watches Gleefully - Aug 22, 2010
- China's smartphone firms warned of patent disputes - Apr 15, 2012
- Facebook buys AOL patents from Microsoft - Apr 24, 2012
- Apple mulls settling patent fights with Samsung - Mar 30, 2012
- Microsoft sues Motorola over Android phones - Oct 02, 2010
- Apple gizmos facing from S. Korean challengers - Apr 20, 2011
Tags: bad software, dollar technology, federal trade commission, gain market, google, intellectual property portfolio, la times, legal challenges, market influence, patent bank, patent lawsuits, patent litigation, patented technology, royalties, smart phone, smart phones, software patent, spokesperson, target, technology field