«« older | newer »»

author photo

August 15, 2011

Jack Newton

Google's $12.5B Patent Insurance Policy

Last week I wrote about the growing patent battle between Google and a wide variety of foes, including Apple, Microsoft and Oracle. These companies have a common enemy – Google's Android – and are willing go to enormous lengths to hamper Android's growing dominance.

Today, Google announced it has taken out a $12.5B insurance policy against the threat of patent litigation by acquiring Motorola Mobility. While Motorola Mobility has a considerable business in mobile phones (it makes the popular Droid smartphone line), Google's announcement makes it clear the acquisition was all about the 14,600 granted and 6,700 pending patents in Motorola's portfolio.

With Motorola's patents in hand, Google has significantly bolstered its otherwise weak patent portfolio. As with nuclear weapons in the cold war, these companies'massive patent portfolios serve no useful purpose other than to serve as a deterrent: if you sue me with your patents, I'll sue you with mine.

Will Google give up on its efforts to effect change in the US Patent Office now that it has joined other patent superpowers, including Apple, Microsoft, and RIM, in a game of mutually assured destruction?

Jack Newton is co-founder and President of Clio, a leading provider of cloud-based practice management software. Jack writes frequently on the security, ethical, and practical aspects of cloud computing, and has spoken at CLE seminars across Canada and the U.S. about how practice management systems can be used to help a lawyer practice efficiently, ethically and competently. Jack can be reached at jack@goclio.com.
[click on the author's name for more information]

Respond: make a comment | read the 1 comment

Share: Email | Save as PDF | Print | Bookmark & Share | Clip to Evernote | Reader later on Instapaper

More: in Technology | from

up

One Comment on “Google's $12.5B Patent Insurance Policy”

  1. David Cheifetz says:
    August 15, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    Perhaps a purchase of that sort wasn't a suprise to industry insiders given that Google lost out in the Nortel patent's auction to a consortium involving Apple, Microsoft, Rim and others.

    This July 1 Globe & Mail article about the Nortel patent auction states:

    Perhaps the biggest loser in the auction was Google, which Mr. Mueller noted is involved in about 45 different patent lawsuits related to its Android operating system for mobile devices. Unlike many of the other players in the wireless world, Google’s own stable of patents is small, and the company has only recently sought to better protect itself from patent litigation.

Make a comment:

Note that some comments may be moderated. If you have not had an approved comment here before, your comment will be held for approval. We are glad to publish comments that address issues raised in the post or other comments on it and that contribute to a fruitful discussion. We do not publish comments that seek to promote commercial products, that make personal attacks, or that seek personal legal advice.

Although we do not require it, we ask that in making a comment you use your full name. You must supply a valid email address, which will not appear with your comment.

 

SlawTips      

SlawTips Cash Flow Reports – Part 2
Thursday, May 24

This is the second in a series of ten tips dealing with cash flow reports and cash flow management. Gregory Nunn once said: “Never underestimate the value of cold cash.”… »»

Practice

SlawTips United Nations Documents
Wednesday, May 23

Today’s Tip: Monitor UN documents with RSS Since I last looked, the United Nations Documents site has a new look and feel. For what the site is trying to deliver, … »»

Research

SlawTips Updated Version of Great Social Media Guide for Lawyers Released
Wednesday, May 23

Last spring, Meritas’ Leadership Institute released a Social Media Guide for Lawyers. This helpful resource provided lawyers with an overview of the three main social media tools — LinkedIn, Faceb. […] »»

Technology

noted on Slaw    

MLB Selected Case Summaries    

These summaries of selected recent cases are provided each week to Slaw by Maritime Law Book.
More information.
  • Harkat, Re 2012 FCA 122

    Aliens - Exclusion and expulsion - Power to detain and deport - Minister’s certificate - Review - Evidence

    In 2002, Harkat was detained pursuant to a ministerial security certificate issued under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) as a person inadmissible to Canada on grounds ...

  • Girouard v. Druet 2012 NBCA 40

    Contracts - Formation of contract - Signing - Electronic signature

    The plaintiff expressed an interest in purchasing the defendant’s (vendor’s) condo. The parties agreed to carry on their discussions through e-mail. Following an exchange of e-mails, the plaintiff claimed that the defendant was contractually bound to ...

  • Donell et al. v. GJB Enterprises Inc. et al. 2012 BCCA 135

    Barristers and Solicitors - Relationship with client - Confidential communications - General

    The petitioner was a Receiver appointed in March 2009 by a California court over the assets of GJB Enterprises Inc. (a “Ponzi scheme”) and its principals, the Berkes (the GJB parties). The court ordered ...

  • Dish Network L.L.C. et al. v. Rex et al. 2012 BCCA 161

    Practice - Costs - Funding before judgment - When interim or advance costs available

    The plaintiffs were “direct to home” satellite based subscription program providers. Rex and other defendants offered “grey market” services to Canadian residents to facilitate the unauthorized reception in Canada of the plaintiffs’ ...

TalkLaw/ParLoi    

This is a listing of a few upcoming events in Canada of interest to lawyers, law students, legal librarians, and others involved in the practice of law.

Clicking on any event in the list below will give you access to more information and to links allowing you to see the full entry and to add the event to your own calendar.

Click this link for a fuller version of the TalkLaw/ParLoi calendar of events and for instructions as to how to add events and calendars to your own calendar.