Google’s experimental patent acquisition program, announced last week, has gotten the attention of Intellectual Ventures, the giant patent holding company, which weighed in on the news this morning by pointing out the similarities to its own controversial business.
In a post entitled, “Welcome Google. Seriously,” Intellectual Ventures founder and vice chairman Peter Detkin points out that Google, under the program, reserves the right to license patents to others after acquiring them.
“This approach is anything but experimental – it is the exact same business model IV has been pursuing for years,” writes Detkin. “Nice to see the IV model adopted by one of the world’s largest companies (and Google needn’t worry – we don’t claim any proprietary rights to the model).”
He concludes, “A robust market for invention requires willing buyers, willing sellers, and willing licensees using patented inventions. We’re pleased to see Google step up and join this market. So welcome Google, to the patent marketplace. We’re happy to have you on our side.”
Can you hear the groans from Mountain View? Google was an early investor in Intellectual Ventures’ patent fund but has since distanced itself from the Bellevue, Wash.-based company, and the companies have faced off over patents in the courtroom.
Google said in the FAQ for its new program that it wanted to provide patent holders an alternative to partnering with “nonpracticing entities,” better known as patent trolls. Although it does make its own technology, Intellectual Ventures is a lightning rod for patent controversies and is often held up as a Patent Troll No. 1.
