Search giant Google dropped a massive news-bomb on us this afternoon — it’s bought Motorola Mobility, the part of Motorola that makes phones and tablets, in a £7.6bn deal. But what’s the reaction to the news, and what does it mean? Patent spending There’s strong feeling that the main motivation for the purchase is so Google can own all Motorola’s …

Question: What is Google getting with its planned $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility? Answer: the only major Android handset maker whose share of the smartphone market receded in the second quarter. At a time when the momentum behind Android is exploding, it’s telling that Motorola was the only major vendor that couldn’t capitalize on the growth. The statistic underscores …

Patently Apple A few weeks ago, Chinese accessory makers fired off a Smart Case for the Samsung Galaxy Tab, claiming it was endorsed by Samsung, that looked remarkably similar to Apple’s Smart Cover for iPad 2. Apple has now filed a figurative trademark in China to protect the Smart Cover design. Samsung has since revealed that it did not officially …