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    Google buys about 1,000 IBM patents

    By PETER SVENSSON - AP Technology Writer | AP – Mon, Aug 1, 2011

    NEW YORK (AP) — Google Inc. has bought about 1,000 pending and issued patents from IBM Corp. in its quest to shore up its defenses against suits by other technology companies, according to documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

    Google and IBM spokesmen wouldn't comment Friday on the purchase.

    The patent transfers were recorded two weeks ago and cover a range of technologies, many of which have little to do with Google's Internet search and advertising business. One covers ways of automatically adjusting a clock, another deals with surface treatments for electrical contacts.

    But even patents that have little do with Google's business can be useful ammunition in the hyper-litigious technology world.

    If it's sued over patents by a company whose business relies on technologies covered by Google's patents, Google can file a retaliatory lawsuit.

    Phone makers that use Google Inc.'s Android software are being sued by Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. As a young company, Google has few patents of its own to counter with.

    Kent Walker, Google's general counsel, wrote in a blog post in April that the explosion in patent litigation threatens to stifle innovation.

    "But as things stand today, one of a company's best defenses against this kind of litigation is (ironically) to have a formidable patent portfolio, as this helps maintain your freedom to develop new products and services," Walker wrote.

    Earlier this month, Google participated in an auction for a collection of 6,000 patents from Nortel, a bankrupt Canadian maker of telecommunications equipment. It was outbid by a consortium including Apple that paid $4.5 billion.

    In the past year, Google has also bought patents from Verizon Communications Inc. and Motorola Inc.

    The patent sale was first reported by the blog SEO by the Sea, which follows Google.

     

    14 comments

    • Stu
      Stu  •  9 mths ago
      The US patent system is a joke. Patents are supposed to protect invention and spur innovation. They have been warped by tech businesses into basically artillery facilitated by a tech ignorant patent office which issues patents for blatantly obvious ideas and coding techniques.
    • luke
      luke  •  9 mths ago
      They really need to change the patent laws here. The purpose of patents is to reward the innovators but not block future innovation. Some things that they allow to be patented should not be granted.
    • Opus
      Opus  •  9 mths ago
      innovation and job killing patents - the sytems is broken about as bad as the debt ceiling issue - this country has absolutley f ed itself royally
    • Rickie
      Rickie  •  9 mths ago
      Lawyers are the bane of civilization.
      • Johnny
        Johnny 9 mths ago
        That's what people say until they're wrongly accused of a crime and a need a lawyer to defend them.
      • Opus
        Opus 9 mths ago
        religion sorry
    • Jeremy
      Jeremy  •  9 mths ago
      Software patents should be illegal. Open Source all the way.
    • Warm Beer
      Warm Beer  •  9 mths ago
      It used to be Microsoft versus Apple. Now it's shaping up to be Google versus Apple. Where the $%$%^^$ did Microsoft go? Can't these companies function without their uber- leaders?
      • scott
        scott 9 mths ago
        Microsoft has nothing new to sell. The Droid and its knock -offs work on the Linux operating system. Apple works on its own system. In 3 years Microsoft will be obsolete.
    • scott
      scott  •  9 mths ago
      American capitalism at its finest.
      • A Yahoo! User 9 mths ago
        and thank goodness
    • michaels
      michaels  •  9 mths ago
      Google left wingers with their huge profits won't be paying higher taxes but I don't hear lefty crying about that.
      • USA
        USA 9 mths ago
        It is your own fault that you are so unhappy.
    • Marvelous
      Marvelous  •  9 mths ago
      "Don't be Evil!"
    • George
      George  •  9 mths ago
      I am going to patent 1+1 =2. Then I am going to sue every education facility and tech company there is.
    • Westsider
      Westsider  •  9 mths ago
      Google probably stole GOD's patent for breathable air.
    • Outerbox
      Outerbox  •  9 mths ago
      Wait, they forgot to buy my invention! Wait a minute, I think IBM already got it.
    • RC
      RC  •  9 mths ago
      How about we put a patent on Lawyers?
    • PowerObject!
      PowerObject!  •  10 mths ago
      Way to go Apple!
      • Stu
        Stu 9 mths ago
        Are you serious? Apple is as big a scourge as the rest of the scum using patents in ways they were never intended.
      • MrClarenceCat
        MrClarenceCat 9 mths ago
        I think that was Powerobject's point. Apple is suing everyone (HTC, Samsung come to mind) so the only way to protect yourself is to buy patents.

        Expect to see a lot of future innovations being stalled as companies sue and counter sue each other for years.
     Post a comment
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