AOL Sells Patents to Microsoft AOL agreed to sell more than 800 patents and related applications to Microsoft for about $1.1 billion.
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Gardner Global (@GardnerGlobal) April 09, 2012AOL has announced a $1 billion deal with Microsoft on Monday. In return for the huge chunk of money, Microsoft will receive 800 patents and patent applications from AOL.
In addition, Microsoft will be granted a non-exclusive license to the patents that AOL retains. The deal will cost Microsoft $1.056 billion in cash.
According to cnet, AOL will only hold 300 patents and patent applications related to advertising, search, and other technologies after the deal is finalized.
Facebook spends $1 billion on Instagram. Microsoft spends $1 billion on Aol patents. Different strokes for different folks.—
Chester Ng (@chest) April 09, 2012
My god, Microsoft and AOL's patents, Facebook and Instagram… all the crazy unexpected news is happening on my day off!—
Megan Geuss (@MeganGeuss) April 09, 2012
If you had $1 billion, would you rather buy Instagram or AOL's patents? (correct answer: retire early)—
Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias) April 09, 2012
I wonder if AOL sold the patents to microsoft for all that nasty crap that comes preloaded on new computers?—
Adam Jackson (@JacksonUTE) April 09, 2012
