Google recently ogled at a plethora of new patents; so, it’s likely its competitors will follow suit, as Microsoft has done on Monday, purchasing more than 800 patents from AOL.� As the New York Times article instructs, the $1.3 million-dollar pursuit of patents seems commonplace amidst the modern-day Web setting.
Chasing and claiming tech patents is savvy business these days.� Think about it.� Where is the Web going?� Surely, mobile and smart phone technology will gain in popularity; it has been doing so for some time, especially in the last year and a half.
“Microsoft is increasing its arsenal, even if it is expensive,” relays a patent expert.� Just what types of implements are covered under the patents?� AOL’s (a Web pioneer) patents involve search, email, instant messaging, and custom-online ads.� An outside analyst observes these are all technologies big brands are anxiously awaiting to ingrain in smart phone technology.
The patent acquisition is a money-making maneuver for Microsoft.� Smart phone manufacturers are anxious to meet growing demands, yet must pay a fee to patent holders.� Just how lucrative and sought are patents these days?� Google paid $12.5 billion for Motorola patents last summer.� Microsoft, Apple and others, paid $4.5 billion for some 6,000 patents last year, taking them off the hands of the bankrupted Nortel Networks.� The Times author did the math; the price works out to $750,000 per patent or one-quarter of what similar patents were ‘going for’ one year prior.
Patent battles have been commonplace in history; and, it doesn’t appear as if history needs a lesson, as Yahoo recently had issues with Facebook over patent violations.� It’s likely we’ll see a lot more patent differences ensue in the near future.� Patents relating to the steam engine, airplane, and automobile have played out in history; but, modern-day patent battles must keep speed with relentlessly evolving technologies.
These days patents are leverage.� “The major companies are using patents to gain competitive advantage rather than just seeing patents a s financial assets,” observes a law school professor.� Are the patents paving the way in the right direction for Microsoft?� The brand is estimated to profit more from each Android phone sold than phones running on Windows Phone software.
Did Microsoft better position itself with the purchase?� Aside from those pending, the brand now has about 20,000 patents (4x that of Apple).� A Boston University School of Law study researched the benefits of patents, eliciting data suggesting patents are highly beneficial in two verticals: the chemical and pharmaceutical.� “In pharmaceutical and chemical industry, the boundaries of a chemical composition patent are well defined.� But in fields like software and telecommunications, the claims are often so broad and vague that it is completely unpredictable what the patents cover and what they don�t,” advises a college law professor.
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