Smartphone LTE Patent Acquisitions: Alliance among Competitors?

TechIPm’s research for patents that are directly related to LTE smartphone implementation in the current US market as of January 15, 2013 reveals that holding of LTE IPRs through patent acquisition process will grow among incumbents and newcomers as the LTE became the key communications technology for smartphones and more players (e.g. Amazon and Sony) enter into the smartphone markets.

One example case is the LTE patent portfolio of Apple. Currently, Apple holds more than 90 patents directly related to LTE smartphone implementation. Nearly 95% of the LTE patents are acquired from Nortel, Freescale Semiconductor, and Intellectual Ventures.  The other example is the LTE patent portfolio of RIM (Research in Motion). More than 10% of RIM’s LTE patents are acquired from Nortel, Ericsson, and Alcatel-Lucent.

In analyzing the patent acquisition status of the LTE IPR shareholders, one interesting point is found: Motorola acquired several LTE patents from RIM. This may indicate a possible alliance among would be competitors for holding of LTE IPRs.

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