Although their respective mobile platforms (Android and iOS) compete for dominance within the hotly contested smartphone sales arena, Cupertino-based tech outfit Apple and technology giant Google have reportedly joined forces to submit a joint bid for Kodak’s patents.  

According to Bloomberg, the two companies are offering a bid that exceeds $500 million (around R4.335 billion) for Kodak’s 1100 imaging patents, which the firm put up for sale after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the beginning of this year.

The news service asserts that unlikely unions such as this are not such an odd sight within the patents acquisition and litigation arena, since firms aim to neutralise any future patent lawsuit threats (from each other) by buying the patents together.    

Last year Google lost out during a multi-day auction for Nortel Network’s 6000 strong patent portfolio, when it was outbid by a consortium consisting of Microsoft, Apple, RIM (Research In Motion) and Sony amongst others.