Google bids $900 million for 6,000 Nortel telecom patents
Summary: Nortel said that it is selling all of its remaining patents and applications for $900 million to Google, which gets wireless, 4G and telecom intellectual property.
Nortel said that it plans to sell all of its remaining patents and applications for $900 million to Google unless a better bid emerges.
With the move, Google would get about 6,000 patents covering wired, wireless and digital communications technologies. The big question is what will Google do with all of these patents. The short answer is that some of these patents will be used for Android---and its defense from the likes of Oracle.
In a blog post, Google said:
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. Google is a relatively young company, and although we have a growing number of patents, many of our competitors have larger portfolios given their longer histories.
Google could get a vast portfolio of patents from Nortel, which has been dismantled in bankruptcy as units get sold off. Google would get patents for wireless, 4G, data networking, optical, voice, semiconductors and other telecom areas. In a statement, Nortel said:
The extensive patent portfolio touches nearly every aspect of telecommunications and additional markets as well, including Internet search and social networking.
Nortel said there were multiple rounds of bidding from several parties. Google and Nortel have entered a so-called "stalking horse asset sale," which allows other qualified bidders to top the search giant's bid.
Related:
Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.
Talkback
sounds like protection
RE: Google spends $900 million for 6,000 Nortel telecom patents
Patent reforms is the only solution here.
Yes, the patent situation is very sad. Google might also one day start
RE: Google spends $900 million for 6,000 Nortel telecom patents
Patent trolls are unlimited and are often shell companies. That way they cannot be countersued. The patent system needs some serious reform. Patent trolls are a very, very serious problem in the USA.
Perhaps patent office liability
Shouldn't they be liable for the costs when their claim turns out to be false? They were, after-all paid for their professional service.
RE: Google spends $900 million for 6,000 Nortel telecom patents
You can bet that they will start filing counter claims against people as
RE: Google spends $900 million for 6,000 Nortel telecom patents
RE: Google spends $900 million for 6,000 Nortel telecom patents
Making a bid ...
Why not go through a patent pool?
RE: Google spends $900 million for 6,000 Nortel telecom patents
RE: Google spends $900 million for 6,000 Nortel telecom patents
RE: Google spends $900 million for 6,000 Nortel telecom patents
i am sooo sick of old patents for crap thats not even used anymore
RE: Google spends $900 million for 6,000 Nortel telecom patents
Patents on technology relating to 4G, optical networking, general "wireless", and large scale telephony, and special-purpose chips which support such networks might be describing GENUINE, NON-OBVIOUS, and new INVENTIONS.
From the article, we don't know what inventions they attempt to protect. A detailed reading and review is needed.
It is probably both defensive and offensive: As we have learned (thanks, ZDNet!) Google will be rolling out their Gigabit-to-the-Home IP network service in Kansas City. Many of these patents could be applicable, and many others might apply to a subsequent "cover the nation-with-wireless" expansion out from urban areas.
Defensively, they could be used to force some level of cooperation from competitng incumbent carriers -- the monopoly-power "RBOCs", such as AT&T; and also the big Cable Cos, such as Cox.