Google Moves to Acquire Motorola’s 17,000 Patents

The Takeaway

Google is attempting to acquire Motorola Mobility Holdings and –  as part of the package –  Motorola’s 17,000 patents. Google’s CEO, Larry Page, explained the motivations in a blog post  about the deal: “Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies.” Patent economist  James Bessen  says Google isn’t buying these patents because they’re looking to make a better mousetrap, but because Apple has even more patents. In other words, the smartphone world is an arms race, and Google and Apple are playing the politics of mutually assured destruction.

Less than .05% of listeners will donate. Can we count on you?

Our coverage reaches millions each week, but only a small fraction of listeners contribute to sustain our program. We still need 224 more people to donate $100 or $10/monthly to unlock our $67,000 match. Will you help us get there today?