Had Google joined the bidding, they would be unable to use the patents to defend against Microsoft. Microsoft would win.
Since Google refused to bid along and the CPTN and Rockstar groups won, Google isn't able to use those patents to defend against Microsoft. Microsoft won.
Had another group won the auctions, the result would be neutral to both Google and Microsoft. Both would, probably, be bullied.
The only scenario where Google would win would be if they offered the winning bid or joined a winning group with no ties to Microsoft. They would then be able to use those patents against Microsoft.
And don't forget Apple's patent portfolio threatens Google and its partners too.
Had Google joined the bidding, they would be unable to use the patents to defend against Microsoft. Microsoft would win.
Google played this tactically horribly. First, their first goal should have been to get these patents off the table. For example, for the Novell patents, MS wanted them so that Apple and Google couldn't sue them with it. But part of the deal was that MS immediately sold those patents to Attachmate. They own none of the Novell patents now (although they have a perpetual license to their use). So clearly MS wasn't planning on being offensive with the patents. It was purely a defensive play.
Second, by not joining in the bidding Google overplayed how much they are worried about these patents and other patents held by the members of the consortium. Things like that are what drives up prices. And it's like blood in water. Companies can smell when they know you have a weakness.
Google should have just taken these patents off the table, and then continue to fight their current battles.
Now they have their current battles to fight. AND they have 882 Novell patents that they can be hit with. Then 6000 Nortel patents. Whoever is running Google's IP planning I think needs to be replaced.
Since Google refused to bid along and the CPTN and Rockstar groups won, Google isn't able to use those patents to defend against Microsoft. Microsoft won.
Had another group won the auctions, the result would be neutral to both Google and Microsoft. Both would, probably, be bullied.
The only scenario where Google would win would be if they offered the winning bid or joined a winning group with no ties to Microsoft. They would then be able to use those patents against Microsoft.
And don't forget Apple's patent portfolio threatens Google and its partners too.