Google's public policy director Pablo Chavez spoke out at the Technology Policy Institute's Aspen conference that software patents were too broad and abstract. He promised that Google will make inroads and "brainstorm longterm solutions" towards patent reform.

This is a little ironic as the company's subsidiary Motorola launched a new patent case against Apple last week. But we guess it has to play the game until the law is changed. Google is worried about the current 20-year shelf life of software patents, and also calling for stronger financial penalties against so-called patent trolls who lose a lawsuit.