Intel buys RealNetworks patents and video codec software for $120 million

[Shawn Knight]

Intel has agreed to purchase roughly 190 patents, 170 patent applications and next generation video codec software from RealNetworks for $120 million. The buy isn’t expected to have any material…

Read the whole story

 

[Guest]

who even uses realnetworks at all anymore?

 

[RzmmDX]

That was what I was thinking...

But I guess Real has some really neat patents that are worth 120 mil.

 

[Guest]

Seems like Intel is hell-bent on buying the whole industry.

 

[bexwhitt]

I fix PC's, if I find realplayer on a customers pc, I usually remove it, they probably don't need it (now the BBC have seen the light).

 

[MrAnderson]

Hmm... I can see it now... Intel chips specially designed to accelarte there video formats... so they are going to need the industry to pick up these formats otherwise they will just go to waste if no one is using them to distribute media... and the biggest place is online... watch out Flash video...

 

[Muggs]

As we see in article after article here many of these patents are not bought to be used they are purchased to be used as leverage in law suits. It is probably just more for protection vs patent trolls or as fuel to suits against competitors.