Google has purchased 1,023 patents from IBM in a play the search engine giant says will protect its Android operating system against numerous patent lawsuits.

According to the blog SEO by the Sea, which initially broke the story, Google acquired the patents in mid August. The patents acquired are fairly broad are not specific: Java scripting, wireless technology, circuit design, parallel database systems and architecture, and user authentication were amongst the intellectual property acquired.

Google declined to comment on the acquisition cost of the patents, but says the purchase was necessary because of a “hostile, organized campaign” against Android by rival smartphone manufactures such as Apple and Microsoft. Google’s acquisition of 1,030 patents from IBM in July and recent purchase of Motorola Mobility Holdings were also done as a protective measure.

Google’s general counsel, Kent Walker, told the Wall Street Journal that patent-infringement litigation was being used by corporations to “block competing products or profit from the success of a rival’s new technology.”

David Drummond, Google’s Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer blogged that “[Google’s] competitors are waging a patent war on Android and working together to keep us from getting patents that would help balance the scales.”