Google's Patent Purchase Program: In The Public Interest Or A Monopoly On Patent Rights?

On April 27^th, 2015 Google announced the launch of its Patent Purchase Promotion. The "experiment," as Google calls it, allows patent owners, or those otherwise authorized to sell a patent, to set a price for their patent and offer it for sale to Google. The Promotion is Google's attempt to "remove friction from the patent market" and "help improve the patent landscape and make the patent system work better for everyone." By offering to buy patents direct, Google is attempting to provide an alternative to the lure of selling one's patent to a non-practicing entity, more commonly known as a patent troll.

The submission window opened on May 8^th and closed on the 22^nd. While Google has not released any information regarding the number of submissions they have received, sources indicate that Google has been "inundated" with patents to review. At the time the Promotion was announced, Google planned to have fully executed any patent purchases by July 22^nd.