Silicon Valley’s interest in wireless patents doesn’t end with Nortel
Silicon Valley’s interest in wireless patents doesn’t end with Nortel
by Kevin FitchardJuly 25th, 2011
Apple has shelled out $2.6 billion for Nortel’s intellectual property, according to an SEC filing, making it the largest stakeholder in the consortium that won for $4.5 billion the now defunct Canadian vendor’s communications technology patent portfolio (CP: Nortel patent go for $4.5 billion to consortium). But Apple and its competitors’ interest in telecom–particularly wireless—intellectual property may not yet be slaked. An even bigger potential bonanza of mobile patents is up for grabs as InterDigital is exploring the sale of its extensive patent holdings.
The Wall Street Journal named Google as the best candidate for a blockbuster deal for InterDigital, given its loss to Apple in the bidding war for Nortel’s IP. Unlike Nortel, InterDigital is a publicly traded company that doesn’t need to auction off its pieces in bankruptcy. Google can approach the deal like a regular acquisition, though InterDigital is sure to court other suitors given the rising value of wireless patents in today’s litigation-prone environment.
InterDigital is also a much different animal than Nortel’s patent group. Apple, Microsoft, EMC, Ericsson, Sony and Research in Motion essentially bought patents on paper—a big bulwark against IP lawsuits but hardly a commitment to future innovation. InterDigital was one of the premier technology firms contributing to global wireless standards, and though its primarily a licensing vehicle today, it’s still developing new technologies. Today, InterDigital is working on the generations of wireless networkin
http://blog.connectedplanetonline.com/unfiltered/2011/07/25/silicon-valleys-interest-in-wireless-patents-doesnt-end-with-nortel/
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