You usually acquire IP by inventing something, and then filing for patents based on the invention, if that's what you're asking. To be fair, I don't think Pebb

You usually acquire IP by inventing something, and then filing for patents based on the invention, if that's what you're asking. To be fair, I don't think Pebble was aspiring to be acquired by Fitbit for their IP. They turned down a huge acquisition offer, presumably on the notion of getting bigger. This was just a fire sale which barely returned money to debt holders (and maybe some to investors). Same thing with Coin. In fact, Fitbit only acquired a portion of that company.