Google buys another 1,000 patents from IBM to defend Android

Google has purchased another batch of patents from IBM as the firm continues to bolster its ever-expanding patent portfolio.

The US Patent and Trademark Office has a list of the 1,023 patents acquired by Google, covering a broad range of technologies including desktop and server hardware, security, user authentication and circuit design.

Crucially, there are several patents relating to Java, which Google will no doubt use to defend its Android platform in the face of patent infringement action from Oracle.

Software patent specialist Florian Mueller told V3 that the latest purchase is similar to the one signed in July when Google acquired 1,030 patents from IBM. These covered areas such as search, data mining, linking, networking, semiconductors and hardware architecture.

"Interestingly, the inclusion of Java-related patents in the latest batch suggests that IBM could be siding with Google against Oracle to some extent," he told V3.

Google recently splashed out $12.5bn to buy Motorola Mobility, a key purpose apparently being to acquire 17,000 patents.

Patent lawyer David Mixon suggested that just 18 Motorola patents could put Google in a stronger position in its legal disputes with Apple and Microsoft.

High-profile handset makers using Android, such as HTC, Motorola and Samsung, have also received lawsuits from Apple, and Google may use some of the patents acquired to help the firms in their ongoing disputes.

Most recently, HTC acquired nine patents from Google to strengthen its International Trade Commission and US District Court of Delaware lawsuits against Apple.