In Google bought 1,023 patents from the international tech giant, IBM. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed but the transfer of the patents was reported yesterday on the USA Patent and Trademark Office Web site. It is clear that Google has purchased these patents to bolster its strategy of defending against smartphone lawsuits. In particular, the company would appear to be seeking ways to protect Android.
This is not the first time that Google is buying patents from IBM. In a previous transaction in July the company had acquired 1,030 patents from IBM. Its acquisition of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion will obtain more than 17,000 patents.
Android is a free, open-source program that relies on some non-proprietary features Google didnt create and allows outside developers to modify the code. That has left the company and handset makers that use the system vulnerable to lawsuits claiming Android was built on the backs of research done by other technology companies. Companies like Apple, Microsoft, etc. have filed lawsuits against Android handset makers Samsung, HTC and others.
Last month Google had transferred to HTC nine patents it bought in the past year from different companies. HTC used those patents to file lawsuits agonist Apple.
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