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Facebook Purchases 650 AOL Patents From Microsoft
eldavojohn writes "Not two weeks after Microsoft purchased 925 patents and patent applications plus licenses to AOL's portfolio for $1 billion, Facebook has now acquired 650 of said patents and patent applications for $550 million to which Microsoft retains a license. So, was Microsoft's $450 million worth it? According to their press release: 'Upon closing of this transaction with Facebook, Microsoft will retain ownership of approximately 275 AOL patents and applications; a license to the approximately 650 AOL patents and applications that will now be owned by Facebook; and a license to approximately 300 patents that AOL did not sell in its auction.' Will the patent-go-round continue, or has Facebook loaded up for a good old-fashion Mexican standoff?"
Now facebook can monitor you even more effectively.
To offset political mods, replace Flamebait with Insightful.
...that no-one can find a single AOL patent which isn't obvious or had prior art.
But this isn't about buying patents. This is about transferring funds to AOL for *some reason*.
Google has already staked their company on G+. Does Microsoft gain an edge by helping Facebook even if there is no direct payoff?
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
See where this is going?
When the foot seeks the place of the head, the line is crossed. Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe.
All this means is that Zuckerberg is a greater fool than Balmer. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_fool_theory)
That is to be expected, since youth and talent are no match for age and treachery.
Once FB goes public they will be lawfully required to turn a profit by any "lawful" means necessary, suing everyone over patent infringement is just another revenue stream, and makes them more "desirable". The problem with them holding all the cards is we don't know what those cards and if they are even worth anything.
Only I will remain.
"Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
This is not terribly different from different countries on the map lining up with either the US or the Soviets... or going non-aligned.
It's a good old fashioned "military alliance"... just with patents and lawyers instead of nuclear warheads.
The problem with socialism is that they always run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher
Will the patent-go-round continue, or has Facebook loaded up for a good old-fashion Mexican standoff?"
In Soviet Mexico, we just call them "standoffs".
At some point the world is going to wake up and notice that the U.S. forces it's patent and copyright laws down everyone's throats while all the big U.S. companies have agreements to ignore each other's IP.
Basically they're forcing everyone to adopt IP law while they don't (hypocritically obviously) but also telling them that it's for their good while not doing it themselves.
How exactly do you know whose patent you're potentially infringing on? Do searches on the US patent website return correctly updated info?
Facebook, it's the new AOL!
come on fhqwhgads
I don't care about any social media. I refuse to use any of it. I consider myself a technological hermit, and proud to be one.
Facebook is a great, big, popular walled garden. AOL was a great, big, popular walled garden. There's probably at least a few patents in the bunch that FB steps on that they would prefer to own, even if they are half way to expired by now.
Perhaps there is something in this bunch that helps FB against the Yahoo suit. That is still on, right? Such silly games we force companies (and people) to play.
This looks like normal business to me.
For most businesses they don't see patents so negativity. For the most part if they know about the patent before hand they normally work to either buy it, or purchase a license to use it. Now they could fight it (to invalidate the patent), but that usually happened after they asked for it and they said no. You are looking at the Patent Case between Apple and Samsung or Google and Oracle, but those are more the exception then the case. I am willing to be that Apple and Samsung Google and Oracle agree and share patents and license them to each other for a lot more cases then the ones they fight over.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Patent litigation.
Now Facebook will be able to mass produce drinks coasters with impunity.
And behold, a command prompt and he who sat upon it, his name was shutdown and -h 3:11 followed with him
I have said it once and I have said it again Failbook is in bed with M$. Support Failbook and you also support M$ and non free software.
--
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk
friends do assist M$ addicted friends in committing suicide.
Oh, the tangled web They weave. When Patent Guilds Conspire as thieves. Patents today have become like some magic amulet from D&D. You only have to possess it for a short time to impart its magical protection to you forever. After that, you're free to pass (sell) it on to the next troll who needs to up his powers. Does anyone really believe that MS will not, as a term of the sell, keep an eternal license to the patents just as AOL likely did in its sell to MS? Patents must DIE.
Given that software patents are 100% worthless, I hope Microsoft enjoys their donation from Facebook, and AOL enjoys their cool billion.
Eeeasy money.
"Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
are a giant card game, where your hand is unlimited, cards cost millions, and the only people who lose are users and innovators without money to buy stake in the game. Fun.
Capitalism used to be based on producing value through the manufacture of commodities (or mining coal and similar processes). Now what do we have? Buying and selling of useless paper. It's over.