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Google Strikes Deal With Verizon To Reduce Patent Troll Suits

Posted by samzenpus on from the why-can't-we-be-friends? dept.

mpicpp writes Google Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. struck a long-term patent cross-license agreement to reduce the risk of future patent lawsuits, the latest in a string of deals that signal a slowdown after years of aggressive patent wars. The deal effectively bars the companies from suing each other over any of the thousands of patents the companies currently own or acquire in the next five years. It also protects the companies if either sells a patent to another company, and that company attempts a lawsuit. "This cross license allows both companies to focus on delivering great products and services to consumers around the world," said Kirk Dailey, Google's head of patent transactions.

20 comments

  1. Thus, they fully admit by Yakasha · · Score: 4, Informative
    That patents are hindering innovation.

    Case closed.

    1. Re:Thus, they fully admit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That patents are hindering innovation.

      It only hinders innovation at companies too small to make these deals. Remember that next time you hear we need patents to protect the mythical lone inventor.

    2. Re:Thus, they fully admit by phizi0n · · Score: 2

      Why do I always lose mod points just when I want to actually use them...

      That patents are hindering innovation.

      It only hinders innovation at companies too small to make these deals. Remember that next time you hear we need patents to protect the mythical lone inventor.

      This is so true. Large companies cross license all the time just to end silly patent wars between each other and then sue the shit out of all the small guys or buy them up. When companies reach certain sizes they do whatever they want, if they get told it's illegal then they just change the laws but they don't get punished.

    3. Re:Thus, they fully admit by schnell · · Score: 2

      Google Strikes Deal With Verizon To Reduce Patent Troll Suits

      What I don't understand is that this is supposed to be a patent cross-licensing deal between Google and Verizon, which has nothing to do with anyone else. Per the headline, does that mean that Google is a patent troll? Or is that Verizon? Or both?

      I don't understand. Unless of course it's just terrible editing on Slashdot with a clickbait headline that is unrelated to the story at hand. That I would understand.

      --
      "95% of all Slashdot .sig quotes are incorrect or completely fabricated." -Benjamin Franklin
    4. Re:Thus, they fully admit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do I always lose mod points just when I want to actually use them...

      I guess you didn't "take care" (decide for yourself what I am saying here) of the "global mods" that run (ruin?) /.

    5. Re:Thus, they fully admit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you'd bothered to read TFS, you would have seen this nugget:

      It also protects the companies if either sells a patent to another company, and that company attempts a lawsuit.

      So essentially it provides these companies (and ONLY these two companies) protection from each others' patent-trolling-by-proxy.
      As usual, the rest of the world can get fucked.

    6. Re:Thus, they fully admit by Yakasha · · Score: 1

      That patents are hindering innovation.

      It only hinders innovation at companies too small to make these deals. Remember that next time you hear we need patents to protect the mythical lone inventor.

      The system hinders innovation at Google, Verizon, and every other tech company as well. Verizon's public statement starts right at the top with

      Verizon Signs Patent Licensing Deal with Google to Promote Innovation

      then continues with

      But in high-tech industries like ours, the patent system can be exploited to get in the way of innovation.

      Verizon believes that even high-tech giants like themselves are hindered by the system. Hence the deal. I agree that small-time inventors are hurt more as they are unable to strike these deals, but that does not mean the system only hinders them.... else there would be no need for this deal.

  2. So basically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Big corporates are colluding on their patent abuse, agreeing not to sue each other, leaving everybody else as fair game.

    Going on strong and getting stronger being the opposite of what patents were supposed to be ment to do: Protect the small inventor's revenues for a bit, so he could grow and prosper. America, what have you done?

    1. Re:So basically by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Rather, what have you become?

  3. Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1
    "This cross license allows both companies to focus on delivering great products and services to consumers around the world,"

    Shouldn't that be the focus for every company???

    1. Re:Really? by arbiter1 · · Score: 2

      When you got to worry about not stepping on someone patent makes it almost impossible. In court of patents, you are guilty til proven innocent.

    2. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When you got to worry about not stepping on someone patent makes it almost impossible. In court of patents, you are guilty til proven innocent.

      When you got to worry about not stepping on someone patent makes it almost impossible. In court of patents, you are guilty until you prove yourself innocent.

      TFTFY

  4. Anti-Trust by TrollstonButterbeans · · Score: 0

    Several more companies should join in, then the US Government should start an anti-trust lawsuit against all of them.

    This was the angle Google was using in 2011 against H264 patent aggregation groups. http://redmondmag.com/articles...

    What is the difference here?

    All of the rich companies joining together to establish the exclusive ability to create products and services is where this ultimately leads.

    --
    Priest: "Universe from nothing, no laws of physics, sped up time"+ huge discrepancies. Creationism? No. Big Bang Theory
    1. Re:Anti-Trust by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      What is the difference here?

      There isn't any. 'Cross License' is the euphemism for collusion. Patent holders should not be allowed to prohibit competitors from using their inventions, or to deny a license. They can still collect their royalties for the duration, but a license must be granted to anyone that can pay the percentage, without question, or even permission. Same goes for copyright. This is the only way mitigate some the inherent corruption built into the patent/copyright system until it can be abolished completely.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  5. Great products and services by wiredlogic · · Score: 1

    allows both companies to focus on delivering great products and services to consumers around the world

    Maybe for Google, but Verizon is all about raping its customers with lackluster products and services at exorbitant prices.

    --
    I am becoming gerund, destroyer of verbs.
  6. Brings tears to my eyes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow... Google and Verizon promising that they won't use their patent stashes to sue people^H^H^H^H^H^H each other. That helps all the little guys and gals, doesn't it?

  7. So.... tag team suits? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Against other companies?

  8. google is ran by the cia/nsa by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    google is ran by the cia/nsa

    1. Re:google is ran by the cia/nsa by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      shit, I wish I have knew before I signed up at Gmail.

  9. So they won't patent troll each other... by bigsexyjoe · · Score: 1

    But they'll continue to patent troll everyone else?

    --
    Democracy Now! - your daily, uncensored, corporate-free