Big Tech Opens Wallet for Patents to Stop Infringement Fights

A coalition of companies, including Alphabet Inc.'s Google, Uber Technologies Inc., and Microsoft Corp., are preparing to buy a broad range of technology patents to defend against potential infringement suits.

Allied Security Trust, a nonprofit group that buys patents that its member companies could be sued for infringing, announced June 4 that it will hold another fixed price patent buy in July. The trust will accept offers from sellers July 15 to July 26 in 14 technology categories, during the fourth round of its Industry Patent Purchase Program (IP3).

The annual program offers a glimpse into which ...