- Microsoft/Apple/RIM have joined together to purchase 6,000 Nortel patents for $4.5 billion. Although the sale reportedly completed this week, the US Department of Justice is investigating to consider whether the collaborative purchase was done with the intent (or potential result) of limiting competition. [Background]
- In May 2011, Google acquired over 1,000 patents from IBM. Acting strategically, Google did not record the assignment until after the Nortel deal. The IBM patents appear to be focused on a Google core function of data storage. See, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 7,266,596.
- LSI transferred 115 patents to NetApp after an asset purchase. LSI also transferred 26 patents to INVENSAS which is a subsidiary of licensing-focused TESSERA.
- Patent enforcer Wi-LAN purchased 60 patents from Glenacre Electronics for a reported $8 million. The patents all appear to relate to wireless communications.
- NXP sold its sound solutions business to Knowles Electronics, along with a few dozen patents. The obscure "Nytell Software" obtained another few dozen NPX patents.
- Patent protector RPX purchased 28 patents from Fairchild Semiconductor and 15 patents from Celltrace.
- Small private company OnSpec transferred its 26 patents to the patent enforcer TPLGroup.
- The New Jersey company OMAHA ACQUISITION obtained a dozen or so patents related to patient beds from SANDEL MEDICAL INDUSTRIES, LLC.
- In its settlement with Walker Digital, Apple purchased the patents it had been accused of infringing.
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