Google buys over 1,000 more patents from IBM; now has over 20,000

After purchasing 1,030 patents from IBM in July, and 17,000 patents from Motorola last month, Google has purchased a further 1,022 patents from IBM. 

Apparently, this purchase was made on August 17, two days after the purchase of Motorola Mobility was announced.  Clearly, Google knows that its patent war chest can't compete in the mobile arena.  So, what if Google is amassing patents in areas that will hurt its competitors equally hard?  That is to say that if Google can’t match Apple, Microsoft et al in mobile patents, what if they procure the right patents to fight each company to a stalemate.

If Apple has eight patents that it wants to sue Google with in the mobile space, Google may now have eight patents in another area that will be just as debilitating for Apple, thus giving Google leverage and perhaps concluding in a truce.

All the experts in patent law are focused on Google's ability to protect Android against attack.  But, what if Google knows that would be prohibitively expensive, so instead it's arming itself to defend with offence (also known as the best defence).

The first to uncover the patent deal was SEO by the Sea, which also put together a great list of interesting patents from the 1,000 plus on record.  There are six regarding Java and Scripting and four regarding mobile phone and wireless data; and those are just the ones that stood out.

All together Google now has over 20,000 patents granted.  And with Motorola holding a further 7,000 in pending status, the total will more than likely reach 30,000 once that deal goes through.  Google definitely has a plan, and at some point we will look back at this summer as the turning point in its patent history.

[SOURCE]