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Facebook Purchases 650 AOL Patents From Microsoft

Posted by Soulskill on from the patent-rent-to-own dept.

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?"

9 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. W00t by masternerdguy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Now facebook can monitor you even more effectively.

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    To offset political mods, replace Flamebait with Insightful.
  2. Further Alignment by alphatel · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.
    1. Re:Further Alignment by alphatel · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Is this your first visit to /. ?
      Page re-aligns Google
      "When he took over as CEO, Page quickly made his top priority clear by moving Google's executive offices into the same building as the team working on Google Plus. Page also tied a portion of employee bonuses to the success of Google Plus and eliminated what he considered to be unnecessary distractions by closing more than 20 of the company's less popular services.
      "Larry is driven by his paranoia about Facebook. Clearly, these are two companies at war with each other," said Ken Auletta, who got to know Page while writing his book about the company.

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      When the foot seeks the place of the head, the line is crossed. Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe.
  3. Tech Version Of The Cold War by blcamp · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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
  4. Re:I bet $100... by OakDragon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sorry, you are in violation of my patent "placing a wager on an Internet forum". My lawyers will be in touch.

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    Dark Reflection
  5. Brilliant (or not so much) by Shamanin · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Facebook, it's the new AOL!

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    come on fhqwhgads
  6. Re:I bet $100... by tripleevenfall · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm sure AOL (for all its failings) never did a single thing in its entire existence that was patent-able while it ran (held captive?), for a time, nearly the entire online world.

  7. Re:I bet $100... by Ihmhi · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sorry, you are in violation of my patent "requesting a lawyer or lawyers to communicate to a third party that the third party is in violation of a patent or parents and humorously notifying the third party of this fact." My lawyers will be in touch.

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    Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
  8. Re:Gearing up for IPO.. by Pope · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Once FB goes public they will be lawfully required to turn a profit by any "lawful" means necessary

    There is no such law.

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    It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.