Earlier this month, Microsoft acquired almost 1 000 patents fro AOL in an auction. As a result of the deal, it was announced that Facebook will take ownership of 650 patents, which Microsoft will still be able to use under license. It has been suggested that this decision is in defence against Yahoo.
“Facebook is buying about 650 of the 925 AOL patents and patent applications that Microsoft bought, Microsoft and Facebook said Monday.
Facebook will also get a license to use the rest of the AOL Inc. patents that Microsoft bought. Similarly, Microsoft will get a license to use the patents Facebook is buying. This part of the arrangement amounts to an agreement between Facebook and Microsoft not to sue each other over any of the AOL patents. The companies are not saying what the patents cover.” CBS News – read more.
