Google bought 1,023 patents from International Business Machines (IBM) as the Internet search and advertising company bolsters its strategy of defending against smartphone lawsuits. Transfers recorded by the US Patent and Trademark Office’s website on Wednesday show Google acquired the patents August 17. Jim Prosser, a spokesman for the Mountain View, California- based company, confirmed the transaction on Thursday without providing details or financial terms. Chris Andrews, a spokesman for Armonk, New York-based IBM, declined to comment.
Google is building an arsenal of patents that the company has said is largely designed to counter a “hostile, organised campaign” by companies including Apple and Microsoft against the Android operating system for mobile devices.
Google had already acquired 1,030 patents from IBM in a transaction recorded in July, and will obtain more than 17,000 with its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings.
Android is a free, open-source programme that relies on some nonproprietary features
