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A comment on Microsoft's Surface sales figures are in, and they're hideous. Parent comment

Re:Microsoft's Surface sales figures are in, and they're hid... by hkmurakami on Tuesday July 30, 2013 @09:00PM (#6131186)
before the Motorola acquisition, Google's patent arsenal was in the hundreds, which was abysmally small for a company that size. This probably stemmed from their ideals and their culture, but the ugly reality is that companies need patent arsenals to protect themselves.

There is a reason why no one messes with IBM with a patent war. The counter punch would murder anyone who'd try. Maybe Google now has enough patents to deter most of the absurd threats, and given their cash flow, even the huge cost of the Motorola acquisition may be "worth it" as a contingency plan and a risk hedge.

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Re:Microsoft's Surface sales figures are in, and they're hid... by jussij on Tuesday July 30, 2013 @09:36PM (#6131314)
> This probably stemmed from their ideals and their culture, but the ugly reality is that companies need patent arsenals to protect themselves.

I'm sure that's what Google was hoping for.

But it appears the 12 billion paid for those patents don't seem to be offering too much in the way of protection, as they keep losing in the courts.

http://www.fosspatents.com/2013/04/april-was-disastrous-for-...

Add to that, the additional Motorola restructuring costs and Motorola’s inability to make a profit, it's starting to look like the purchase won’t be far off from a total right down.

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Re:Microsoft's Surface sales figures are in, and they're hid... by hkmurakami on Tuesday July 30, 2013 @09:39PM (#6131326)
I wonder if the Nortel patents would have served them better.
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Re:Microsoft's Surface sales figures are in, and they're hid... by jussij on Tuesday July 30, 2013 @09:52PM (#6131393)
The may have been forced to purchase Motorola in order to protect Android?

During its Q2 earnings conference call Motorola hinted that it is ready to join Android patent racket, and start demanding licensing fees for its IP from other Android manufacturers.

This week Motorola’s CEO Sanjay Jha reiterated this message, and made it even more clear – they do indeed have plans to start collecting IP royalties from other Android makers.

http://www.unwiredview.com/2011/08/11/motorolas-sanjay-jha-o...

To find out, I guess we'll have to wait a few decades for the book?

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