Google just bids 900 Million USD to acquire 6000 patents from Nortel
Google finally entered into the patent race and recently bids 900M USD to acquire 6000 telecom patents from Nortel, probably as a way to ensure a stronger protection of its mobile operation system and middleware unless another company outbids Google. We can notice that this is valuing each patent at 150 000 USD when the average is generally lower.
New FTC report on patent …. more transparency is needed
On March 7th 2011, the FTC released a very important report on patent with a strong focus on how more transparency can be created around patents and patent remedies.
The report insists strongly on the role of patents to stimulate innovation which require that anybody is able to understand easily the scope of the protection offered by a patent and then several suggestions are made to increase such predictability.
In addition, the report is considering the necessary balance for compensation to patentees, overcompensation or undercompensation having a strong effect on innovation.
Several suggestions are made:
“capping reasonable royalty damages at the amount a willing licensee would pay, which may be determined by the value of the invention over alternative technologies;
increasing the role of district courts in excluding unreliable expert testimony on damages from trial;
incorporating concerns into the injunction analysis about the leverage that an injunction may give a patentee to obtain royalties exceeding the economic value of an invention.”
In a nushell, a very importance piece for the debate about the patent system and its necessary evolution.
the report is available there: http://www.ftc.gov/os/2011/03/110307patentreport.pdf
Smart Grids, Standards and patents …. some interesting readings
Two interesting recent articles about Smart Grids, standards and patents. With Smart Grids pushing for more interoperability, we can expect smart grids standards to evolve from semantic to technical interoperability and then involve more and more patented technologies with similar dynamic as in IT/Telecoms.
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/where-patents-and-standards-collide-in-smart-grid/
Where Patents and Standards Collide in Smart Grid
A new ruling highlights the complementary nature—and ongoing tension—between intellectual property and standards-setting bodies.
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/one-world-one-grid/
One World, One Grid, One Standard
Standards and international standards development organizations will be the critical x-factor in the successful launch of the global smart grid.
I am not the only one surprized by the silence (Oracle vs. Google)
A very interesting post from ZDNET is available here: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/the-deafening-silence-in-the-oracle-google-lawsuit/7176
I am not the only surprized by the lack of reactions of the open source community or some officials such as Linux foundation guys, open invention network or the free software foundation. Dana raised an interesting point about this complaint, this is not Java which has been released under GPL but more related to the mobile edition not available under an open source license, I am careful with my words as whether it is or not related to ME will be one of the points of debate between Google and Oracle.
Apparently Oracle and Google were already in discussion about a licensing arrangment, so this litigation may be just a step towards such a licensing deal between the two companies.
More development on Oracle vs.Google
here is a very good post from the Register adding more reactions to this lawsuit, but still not a lot of strong reactions so far.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/16/google_oracle_android_lawsuit/
