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Reports are surfacing that Google is unhappy with Microsoft and Nokia’s collaboration because they have transferred patents to a “troll” who makes money from patent lawsuits.

Infact Google has sent an official complaint to the European Commission claiming that Nokia and Microsoft have put 1200 wireless patents in the hands of Canada-based “patent troll” MOSAID Technologies, according to Reuters.

The search giant is seemingly worried that this potential collusion will marginalise their products, as Microsoft and Nokia compete with Google’s Android OS. Google has also fired off complaints to the Federal Trade Commission and the US Justice Department.

Microsoft, in response, branded Google “desperate”, with Nokia stating their belief that Android had “significant issues” with intellectual property rights itself.

Nokia’s position within the industry has gone up several notches of late because of their many patents, which gives them added impetus as many companies fight for intellectual property rights.

Nokia is reputed to earn an annual €500,000 from patent royalties alone, with MOSAID being quoted saying they could rake in $1bn per year in revenue for the next decade if the patent rights are fully developed.

Mark Durrant, a spokesman for Nokia, said simply that Google’s assertion is “wrong”, adding that: “Both companies have their own intellectual property rights portfolios and strategies and operate independently”.

Google won their recent legal battle against Oracle after a court ruled they didn’t infringe on Oracle’s patents – but this is a different battle altogether.

All this collaboration going on means that somebody’s going to get left on their own with tears before bedtime – and in this instance, Google seems to be the ones crying off.

Can one company outgun two? Does Google have a reason to feel aggrieved at what they think will happen to Android if Microsoft and Nokia attempt to further assert their patent rights?