Google is Learning the Hard Way About the Need to Build an IP Portfolio

Silicon Valley exploded with the concomitant explosion of the value of intellectual property.  In fact, Silicon Valley companies often use their patent portfolios to use against rivals.  Sometimes this manifests itself in a cross-license of patents, or the wrangling of a license fee, or some other type of concession from a company's rivals.  Because these companies realized the value of intellectual property, oftentimes a business strategy is to "collect" intellectual property (by buying them along with a company, or obtaining them from a company that files for bankruptcy). 

Amazingly, Google did not stockpile intellectual property--even in the smartphone arena.  That strategy (or lack thereof) has now lead to Google being the subject of many lawsuits by Apple and others all over the world.  As consumers are shifting from desktops to mobile devices, this may cost Google dearly. 

Apparently, Google has learned its lesson because it is now trying to build its intellectual property (especially patent) portfolio.  The problem is that with so much litigation against it by some very big companies, Google's failure to capture the right intellectual property could cause its Android phones to become pricey.  Litigation is costly. 

Hopefully, if you are a fledgling technology company, you are keeping an eye out for intellectual property that can help you build your business and trying to obtain it or get rights to it before being sued.