Oracle Shells Out $1B To Buy ATG

wiredmikey writes "Oracle announced this morning that it would pay $1.0 Billion in cash to acquire ATG, a provider of high-end e-commerce software."

Here's the list of patents acquired:

[ciaran_o_riordan]

http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Oracle#ATG_patents_acquired [swpat.org]

Re:Firsrt question

[gstoddart]

My first question is: What OS projects are "driven" by ATG?

I'm betting none. From TFA ...

“The addition of ATG, which brings market-leading products used by some of the largest and most well-known retailers and brands, furthers Oracle’s strategy of delivering industry-specific enterprise applications"

This is a commercial entity which sells eCommerce software to other commercial entities.

Sometimes, the story has nothing to do with Open Source. This is one of them. So, feel free to get on with your "so why do we care" rants now.

Re:Firsrt question

[Saija]

Maybe this:

• System and method for interfacing and separating formatted content and program code [uspto.gov]
• Method and system for constructing personalized result sets [uspto.gov]
• Method and system for load balancing and management [uspto.gov]
• Electronic message distribution [uspto.gov]
• Internet server session backup apparatus [uspto.gov]
• Electronic message routing [uspto.gov]
• Flexible order structure [uspto.gov]
• Remote media control for voice over internet telephony and related applications [uspto.gov]
• Caller identification and voice/data synchronization for internet telephony and related applications [uspto.gov]
• Universal internet based telephony system that provides ubiquitous access for subscribers from any terminal device [uspto.gov]
• Internet telephony for ecommerce [uspto.gov]
• Voice-controlled data/information display for internet telephony and integrated voice and data communications using telephones and computing devices [uspto.gov]
• Method and apparatus for the prevention of unwanted calls in a callback system [uspto.gov]

Re:Buying companies for their software patents?

[BuddaLicious]

ATG makes over $50 million a year in REVENUE.
They grew by 16% last year.

Even if this growth rate slows (more likely to accelerate as market improves) Oracle will still get a FULL return on their investment in 15 years or so.
That's much better than the 20 P/E ratio that Buffet always swore by and got so rich on.

Oracle is buying a profitable company that produces a commerce package that allows complex transactions, like the poster above mentioned.
ATG also has a customer base of 1000 large Orgs, that are likely not a duplicate list of Oracle shops. (Meaning Oracle now has contacts and inroads into several more large orgs)
THIS is why Oracle bought ATG: A commerce package they can bolt onto their vertical platform offerings, a customer base, and a solid revenue stream.
The bogus IP patents are just icing on the cake to help Oracle defend itself from MS, Google, Apple etc.

Smart thing would be to avoid using their products if you don't like their business model. Other than outright war its the only affect you can hope to have on them.

FTC and SEC should do their jobs and not rubber stamp their approval UNLESS Oracle can show HOW THIS WILL BE OF BENEFIT TO CONSUMERS. otherwise deny it!