According to records from the US patent office, Google has splashed the cash once again, buying over 1,000 patents from IBM. Google previously bought 1,030 patents from IBM in July.

No word has emerged from Google as to the whys and wherefores of the purchase.

However, with Google’s $12.5 billion buyout of Motorola Mobility still fresh in the mind, self-defence is thought to be the main reason. Foss Patents argued that, in the case of the Motorola Mobilty buyout, Google had to act to protect itself from Motorola's patents.

Cold war

Research VP at Yankee Group, Brian Partridge believes that the current climate of patent infringement lawsuits and the way in which companies are protecting themselves against attack is reminiscent of nuclear warhead stockpiling during the Cold War.

"Google's aggressive patent spending spree on mobile hardware and software intellectual property means it wants to remain a superpower in the mobile ecosystem," Partridge said.

"Just as nuclear warheads provided a deterrent for conflict during the Cold War, patent portfolios play the same role for mobile superpowers. Google obviously feels that patent accumulation is necessary to provide legal cover for its mobile interests such as Android from litigious competitors, namely Apple."

[source: Mobile Now]