While Apple may have not directly sued Google in relation to its many mobile patents, the two haven’t necessarily been the best of buddies in the courtroom. It seems as though that may be about to change, at least temporarily. New reports have surfaced claiming that the two will indeed join forces to purchase 1,100 of Kodak’s highly sought after imaging patents. It’s expected that both Silicon Valley companies will have to conjure up around $500 million to acquire the array of patents.
The deal should help ease tensions between the two, as both parties would have equal rights to Kodak’s protected imaging-related technology IPs. While this may sound unrealistic, this type of joint venture could prove to be most beneficial to the consumer, considering both companies would be legally allowed to include various tidbits of revolutionary technology in new products. The joint funds would also help Kodak recover from bankruptcy, effectively keeping one of the most innovative imaging and photographic equipment companies afloat during these troubling times.
It’s entirely possible that the deal may not be the final bid for either side, as Google or Apple could each make a bid of their own to buy the patents individually. However, this is one of those strange times where you actually hope the two frenemies can get along in the spirit of innovation.
Source: Bloomberg
