Google’s (GOOG) love for Motorola is only as deep as its patent portfolio. Per the Wall Street Journal, Google recently filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that nearly half of the $12.4 billion it paid to acquire Motorola reflected the value of Motorola’s intellectual property holdings. In all, Google paid $5.5 billion for Motorola’s “patents and developed technology,” $2.9 billion for cash acquired, $2.6 billion in goodwill, and less than $1 billion each for “customer relationships” and “other net assets acquired.” In other words, Google placed vastly more value on Moto’s patents — and its ability to help Google combat the likes of Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft (MSFT) in court — than it did on the company’s consumer electronics business.
Sorry, Motorola: Google only loves you for your patents
Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:30PM EST
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Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.
