Amazon seeks Patent Acquisitions Executive

[kennyc]

Looks like Amazon is girding for the continued patent wars:

Amazon seeks leader for patent acquisitions
Wed Aug 8, 2012 9:25pm IST

* Reflects major push into mobile devices, digital content

* Latest twist in battle versus Apple, Google

* Amazon has already hired three patent experts this year

* Amazon licensed patents from Acacia Research -Acacia CEO

By Alistair Barr

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) is recruiting a cadre of intellectual property experts for a push into patent acquisition and licensing, the latest turn in its intensifying battles with Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Google Inc (GOOG.O) in mobile devices and digital content.

Amazon has hired executive recruiting firm Argos Search to help the company hire an intellectual property "Acquisition and Investment Leader" to "identify and evaluate strategic IP acquisition and licensing opportunities," according to a job description obtained this week by Reuters.

The candidate will work closely with all Amazon's technology teams and leaders on future product development, according to the description.

"At Amazon we are rapidly growing in many new and exciting technology areas," the company said in the job posting. "To support and protect our expansion we are seeking an executive to work with our business teams to identify and procure intellectual property."

An Amazon spokeswoman did not respond to an email seeking comment. Thomas Wedewer, an Argos executive recruiter working on the project, declined to comment.

The search suggests that Amazon is trying to amass more patents, either through acquisitions of patent-rich companies, purchases of patent portfolios or licensing, according to intellectual property experts. It is also a sign that the world's largest Internet retailer is serious about being a long-term player in mobile devices and digital content, they say.

Amazon is known for developing its own patents, but mostly in the e-commerce area. An expansion into mobile devices and the delivery of digital content to those devices will require a lot of different patents, intellectual property experts say.
....

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/0...8J7CTI20120808

[fjtorres]

Translation: Amazon seeks Apple Insurance.
Kinda like Flood Insurance but more expensive.

[kennyc]

This is where World War III is taking place...

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Translation: Amazon seeks Apple Insurance.
Kinda like Flood Insurance but more expensive.

Not Google insurance?
It is Google's products that the Fire is directly competing against, not Apple's.
So far Google has kept out of patents fights directly, instead lending its patents to others so that they can sue Apple, but eventually it will have to get itself dirty.

[RainingLemur]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Translation: Amazon seeks Apple Insurance.
Kinda like Flood Insurance but more expensive.

Heh. This was the first thing I though.

[wyndslash]

*sighs* i keep thinking if someone back then had patented the form of a book.

[covfam]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Not Google insurance?
It is Google's products that the Fire is directly competing against, not Apple's.
So far Google has kept out of patents fights directly, instead lending its patents to others so that they can sue Apple, but eventually it will have to get itself dirty.

yeah but apple is the pantent equivilent of a hommicidal rampage and amazon needs a gun fast. yes googal is a rival but its not google running around suing people for having wedge shaped laptops, or rectangular electronic devices with rounded corners, or digital elctectronic devices that graphical interface to store lists on, patenting battery charging that tessla invented, or suing companies who use the 30 pin adapter that motorola invented. Thats why ANYONE in the electronics buisness needs apple insurence.

[LiquidGear]

i wonder if the executives of google and apple are from Argos Search too... :P

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by covfam

yeah but apple is the pantent equivilent of a hommicidal rampage and amazon needs a gun fast. yes googal is a rival but its not google running around suing people for [...]

No, Google 'lends' its patents to HTC so they they can sue Apple for:
- a way to upgrade software wirelessly;
- a way to transfer data between a microprocessor and a support chip;
- a method to store user preferences, and
- a way to provide consistent contact between application software and a radio modem.
- an interface that lets the user add identifiers such as .com or .org;
- an interface that enlarges characters being typed;
- a way to display information on mobile devices;
- and status bars that let a user check phone calls, text messages or calendar events.

That doesn't cause as much as a stink as anything Apple does, though.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-0...s-patents.html