Here are my thoughts as posted on ymb regarding VRNG's new hire. I think the people who say this signals a break in the case (and a GOOG settlement) are wrong, as are those who suggest that this guy is some kind of sinister GOOG plant.
I thought about this today and concluded the following:
1. The timing is probably due to this guy needing to be on the payroll at QE on 12/31/13 to collect his bonus. Especially if he had "partner" status or equivalent, this bonus would be a substantial part of his compensation package. NOBODY leaves a law firm late in the year. He probably wanted to give his 2 weeks notice in person to his superior, adding a couple more days delay.
2. We don't know whether he was part of the QE team on the VRNG/GOOG team or not. More importantly, if he was, anything he knows due to that relationship is covered as confidential under attorney/client privilege, and all parties (him, VRNG, QE, and GOOG, and any law firm that might employ him in the future all know it). Importantly, VRNG would not want him to spill anything he knows about the other side's approach to the VRNG case as that clear violation of attorney/client confidentiality would be a substantial blow to VRNG's entire business model, which is based on UPHOLDING laws and abiding by them, and respecting the legal process.
3. While I don't think this reflects a development in the GOOG case per se (I would love to be proven wrong) it does indicate that VRNG's business model and patent position are appealing to this guy, and, by extension, to other pros in the IP industry.
4. It also signals that VRNG sees the need more more staff bandwidth NOW. To me this means they fell ready to file additional suits that need to proceed in parallel to the GOOG and ZTE etc. suits now in flight.
I think it is a positive that they are hiring this guy, but I don't think this is a GOOG plant and I don't think it presages new developments in the GOOG case
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