Yesterday Microsoft and Facebook announced an agreement in which Microsoft will assign to Facebook the rights to purchase a part of the patent portfolio that they acquired from AOL. It looks like Facebook will be purchasing the portion of patents for $550 million in cash. There are about 925 US patents and patent applications and also a license to AOL?s patent portfolio. From the sounds the agreement Facebook will obtain ownership of about 650 AOL patents and patent applications, also a license to the AOL patents and applications that Microsoft has purchased and owns. With all that being said Microsoft will still retain ownership of 275 AOL patents and applications. This is a big purchase for Facebook especially right before the IPO in May. It looks like Facebook is gearing up a for a big day in May.
