We knew Qualcomm couldn't keep spending tens of millions of dollars a year fighting Broadcom all over the world (especially because it seemed to get beat up wherever it went). But we were a little wistful at the announcement of the bitter rivals' $890 million settlement. We bet Broadcom outside counsel Bill Lee was, too.

That's right: A criminal indictment and the apparent collapse of his civil case against Facebook hasn't stopped Paul Ceglia from wooing yet another big-name lawyer to his side.

Every penny of the $75 million will come from Pfizer's D&O insurers. Not exactly a painful result for the company's directors and officers--nor for the plaintiffs lawyers, who stand to get $22 million in fees.

It's not easy to put a positive spin on getting hit with the largest criminal penalty in U.S. history and having to shell out $2.3 billion. At least the record-breaking settlement "wiped the slate clean" for Pfizer, one of the drugmaker's lawyers said.

Motorola Mobility, the $12.5 billion apple in Google's eye, can now claim the dubious honor of being sued by the mammoth patent aggregator Intellectual Ventures.