WorldWideTech & Science. Francisco De Jesús
InterDigital has confirmed it is part of a consortium bidding for Nortel LTE patents that cover a system to increase wireless speed and capacity.
Thus, the possible presence of Google and Apple in the bidding process is notable, and could reflect their desire to gain a more solid foothold in a patent-licensing business that has long been dominated by the likes of Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson), Qualcomm, Alcatel-Lucent) and other wireless veterans. Research In Motion has also expressed interest in Nortel's patents.
"There has been one round of bidding on those patents, this has been completed," said one source, who declined to be identified because the process is private. "And what Nortel has done is divide the patents up into different lots covering different kinds of technologies."
Nortel, which filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2009, holds more than 4,000 patents that analysts say are worth more than $1 billion in total. Two sources with knowledge of the auction process say they have been grouped into six "buckets" of related technologies and that final bids are due within weeks.
Nortel declined comment, saying the process is confidential.
The patents likely to draw the most attention relate to third- and fourth-generation wireless technology such as Long Term Evolution, with device-makers such as Research In Motion , Motorola , and Apple seen as likely bidders.
"It is certainly a very significant stockpile of potent weaponry, and whoever lays their hands on it is going to gain significant advantage," said Alexander Poltorak, chief executive of General Patent Corp, which advises companies on intellectual property strategy and valuation but is not advising anyone involved in the Nortel patent auction.
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0923434620101209?pageNumber=1
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