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Alexkid · 08-15-2011, 06:59 PM

Google's patent play: $12.5B for Motorola Mobility
MICHAEL LIEDTKE
(The Associated Press)

09:59:02PM (DST) Monday,August 15,2011.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — It may be boldest move yet by a company known for being audacious: Google is spending $12.5 billion to buy Motorola Mobility. But the big prize isn't Motorola's lineup of cellphones, computer tablets and cable set-top boxes.

It is Motorola's more than 17,000 patents — a crucial weapon in an intellectual arms race with Apple, Microsoft and Oracle to gain more control over the increasingly lucrative market for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.

If approved by federal regulators, the deal announced Monday could also trigger more multibillion-dollar buyouts. Nokia Corp., another cellphone manufacturer, and Research In Motion Ltd., which makes the BlackBerry, loom as prime targets.

The patents would help Google defend Android, its operating system for mobile devices, against a litany of lawsuits alleging that Google and its partners pilfered the innovations of other companies.

In addition to the existing trove of patents that attracted Google's interest, Motorola, which introduced its first cellphone nearly 30 years ago, has 7,500 others awaiting approval.

Phone makers and software companies are engaged in all-out combat over patents for mobile devices. The tussle has been egged on by the U.S. patent system, which makes it possible to patent any number of phone features.

Patents can cover the smallest detail, such as the way icons are positioned on a smartphone's screen. Companies can own intellectual-property rights to the finger swipes that allow you to switch between applications or scroll through displayed text.

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Addedum:
Google pounced on Motorola less than two months after a group including Apple and Microsoft paid $4.5 billion for 6,000 patents owned by Nortel, a bankrupt Canadian maker of telecommunications equipment.

>> There's so much to this story.
Google isn't taking any prisoners as it hits hard with the patents,blowing the doors off of Microsoft.
(Did I mentioned Microsoft ?)
I expect Microsoft and the others to make some noise.
Stay tuned. <<

08-15-2011, 06:59 PM	#1
Alexkid Your World & Experience Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Eastern Time Zone Posts: 6,869 Rep Power: 10	Google's patent play: $12.5B for Motorola Mobility Google's patent play: $12.5B for Motorola Mobility MICHAEL LIEDTKE (The Associated Press) 09:59:02PM (DST) Monday,August 15,2011. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — It may be boldest move yet by a company known for being audacious: Google is spending $12.5 billion to buy Motorola Mobility. But the big prize isn't Motorola's lineup of cellphones, computer tablets and cable set-top boxes. It is Motorola's more than 17,000 patents — a crucial weapon in an intellectual arms race with Apple, Microsoft and Oracle to gain more control over the increasingly lucrative market for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. If approved by federal regulators, the deal announced Monday could also trigger more multibillion-dollar buyouts. Nokia Corp., another cellphone manufacturer, and Research In Motion Ltd., which makes the BlackBerry, loom as prime targets. The patents would help Google defend Android, its operating system for mobile devices, against a litany of lawsuits alleging that Google and its partners pilfered the innovations of other companies. In addition to the existing trove of patents that attracted Google's interest, Motorola, which introduced its first cellphone nearly 30 years ago, has 7,500 others awaiting approval. Phone makers and software companies are engaged in all-out combat over patents for mobile devices. The tussle has been egged on by the U.S. patent system, which makes it possible to patent any number of phone features. Patents can cover the smallest detail, such as the way icons are positioned on a smartphone's screen. Companies can own intellectual-property rights to the finger swipes that allow you to switch between applications or scroll through displayed text. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Addedum: Google pounced on Motorola less than two months after a group including Apple and Microsoft paid $4.5 billion for 6,000 patents owned by Nortel, a bankrupt Canadian maker of telecommunications equipment. >> There's so much to this story. Google isn't taking any prisoners as it hits hard with the patents,blowing the doors off of Microsoft. (Did I mentioned Microsoft ?) I expect Microsoft and the others to make some noise. Stay tuned. << __________________ Yeah...Do That.

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