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Follow on Google News | Nortel Shuts Down BigGoogle's $900 million offer for Nortel's patents was outbid by a consortium of software companies for a total of $4.5 billion.
By: Pretium Ventures It was not known how much each of the other companies paid. EMC would only describe the amount as “not material” to its overall finances. The patent portfolio touches nearly every aspect of telecommunications, including Internet search and social networking. In a statement Friday, Google general counsel Kent Walker called the outcome “disappointing for anyone who believes that open innovation benefits users and promotes creativity and competition. We will keep working to reduce the current flood of patent litigation that hurts both innovators and consumers.” Google had said it wanted the patents to defend itself against patent lawsuits from other companies until Congress enacts broader changes to the patent system to help reduce such litigation. Google gives away its Android software for free, counting on its wider use to drive usage of other Google services, such as search and maps. The wireless industry has experienced a wave of legal patent battles in recent years as long-established incumbents try to protect their position against newcomers. Some people in the industry see the purchase by a group rather than a single player as better news for the sector overall, since no one company would have a monopoly. Ten years ago, at its height, Nortel was among the world’s most advanced developers of telecom equipment. But the company was felled by changing market conditions, economic upheaval and an accounting scandal that devastated its stock price. Over the past couple of years, Nortel has sold its wireless network business to Sweden’s Ericsson for $1.13-billion and its enterprise solutions business to U.S.-based Avaya Inc. for $689-million, among others. Some 400 former Nortel employees found themselves abruptly cut off from their long-term disability benefits this year, as part of a court-approved pension settlement between Nortel and its former employees. # # # About Pretium Ventures: Pretium Ventures is a Hong Kong based investment firm that specializes in promoting successful growth of young companies. As a venture Capital firm Pretium Ventures is unique in their client centric approach to supporting the growth of businesses as well as their ability to cater to small to medium sized individual and institutional investors. http://www.pretiumventures.com End
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