Google is currently embroiled in a bitter patent fight with Oracle and it looks like that the company has learned some lessons from its
ongoing tussle. In order to avoid any future encore of the current situation, Google is now trying to collect patents, left right and center. According to a blog called SEO by the Sea, the company acquired more than 1,000 IBM patents in mid-July.
The patents consist of technologies related to "fabrication and architecture of memory and microprocessing chips." Other patents are related to online search engines, routers and servers. However, the timing of this acquisition is slightly ironical, since only a couple of days back, Google's general counsel Kent Walker had very grandiosely asserted that, "The tech industry has a significant problem. Software patents are kind of gumming up the works of innovation." But then, Google never had qualms about saying one thing and doing the polar opposite.
Recently, Nortel patents were snapped up by a consortium consisting of Apple and Microsoft. However, in the case of Google, the price paid for the bundle of patents is not known as the company refused to divulge the details. However, with about $40 billion in cash, Google can afford going on a little patent shopping spree.