Large tech companies join forces to fight patent claims

Heavyweight IT companies are teaming up in defence against potential patent-infringement lawsuits, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter.

The companies plan to buy up key intellectual property before it falls into the hands of parties that could use it against them, the paper said.

The paper's sources said the companies, which include Verizon, Google, Cisco, HP, and Ericsson, are believed to have a joined a group calling itself the Allied Security Trust.

The companies will pay roughly $250,000 (£125,411) to join the group and will each put about $5 million (£2.5 million) into escrow with the organization to go toward future patent purchases, the paper said.

Verizon, Cisco and Google did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment. HP and Ericsson could not be reached for comment.

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