Why tech giants are spending billions on patents

When 2011 comes to a close, it’s a good bet that at least three of the biggest deals in the technology sector this year will have involved the transfer of patents.

Last month, a consortium led by Apple AAPL-Q, Microsoft MSFT-Q and Research In Motion RIM-T bid a whopping $4.5-billion (U.S.) for 6,000 Nortel patents. This week, Google GOOG-Q offered $12.5-billion for Motorola Mobility MMI-N, acquiring its war chest of 17,000 patents. Also this week, Canadian patent licensing firm Wi-LAN WIN-T made a $480-million (Canadian) offer for another Canadian patent company, Mosaid MSD-T.

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