patents

News Byte

DOJ Likely to Clear Rockstar Bidco’s Nortel Patent Purchase

John Paczkowski in News on February 9 at 11:22 am PT

Looks like the Justice Department plans to approve the $4.5 billion sale of Nortel’s wireless technology patents to a consortium led by Microsoft and Apple. Sources familiar with the matter say the DOJ has addressed concerns that the consortium might use the patents to unfairly hamstring competitors. It’s not clear when the DOJ will issue its approval, but when it does some 6,000 wireless patents will be transferred over to Rockstar Bidco, an alliance that also includes Research In Motion, Sony, Ericsson AB and EMC.

Who’s Ready for the (Heaven Forbid) Social Networking Patent Wars?

Liz Gannes in Social on February 9 at 7:00 am PT

Just in case patent wars happen to be contagious, it seems worth evaluating which social networking players are best-equipped.

Google: That 2.25 Percent MoMo Patent Royalty Sounds About Right to Us

John Paczkowski in Mobile on February 8 at 5:20 pm PT

Motorola Mobility’s demand that Apple pay it patent royalties of 2.25 percent on sales of some iPhones and iPads raised a lot of eyebrows. But not at Google.

Justice Department Poised to Clear Google-Motorola Deal

Thomas Catan and Ian Sherr, Reporters, The Wall Street Journal in Mobile on February 8 at 3:48 pm PT

The U.S. Justice Department is poised to clear Google Inc.’s $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. as early as next week, according to people familiar with the matter, giving Google a powerful armory of technology patents to deploy in the smartphone wars.

Motorola Seeks Slice of iPhone, iPad Sales

Ian Sherr and Harriett Torry, Reporters, The Wall Street Journal in Mobile on February 6 at 3:21 pm PT

Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. asked Apple Inc. to pay a potential royalty of 2.25 percent of sales for some iPhones and iPads last year, representing possibly billions of dollars in licensing fees.

Apple Versus Samsung: Win Some, Lose Some

John Paczkowski in Mobile on February 2 at 4:04 am PT

A victory and a defeat for Apple in its legal campaign against Samsung.

EU Opens Antitrust Probe Against Samsung Over Patents

Frances Robinson, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in Mobile on January 31 at 6:00 am PT

The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into technology giant Samsung Electronics to see whether it is using specially protected patents, known as “standards-essential,” to distort the market for mobile devices such as phones and tablets in Europe.

News Byte

RealNetworks Sells Video Codec and a Bunch of Patents to Intel for $120 Million

Ina Fried in News on January 26 at 6:53 am PT

RealNetworks said on Thursday that it has sold a big chunk of it patent portfolio and its next-generation video codec to Intel for $120 million in cash. The Seattle company said it retains the rights to use the technology, so it doesn’t see an impact on its operating plans.

Apple Escalates Android Attack, Fires at Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus

John Paczkowski in Mobile on January 20 at 11:05 am PT

Apple steps up its legal campaign against Samsung, targeting its latest “pure Google” phone.

Kodak Considers Restructuring Chief, Sues Samsung

Dana Mattioli and Mike Spector, Reporters, The Wall Street Journal in News on January 18 at 2:31 pm PT

Eastman Kodak Co. is preparing to appoint a chief restructuring officer, a move that could help the company secure financing needed to stay afloat during bankruptcy proceedings, people familiar with the matter said.