Microsoft buys around 800 patents from AOL for USD 1 billion

AOL has confirmed that they have sold around 800 patents to Microsoft.

The deal is worth around 1 billion dollars.

AOL gets a perpetual license to all these patents so Microsoft cannot sue them with any of these patents in the future.

AOL said in a note to their employees:

This process of unlocking the value of our patent portfolio, that we began last fall, is a significant example of focusing our time and energy around strengthening our company’s balance sheet and unlocking value for our shareholders. Most importantly, this is another step forward for the comeback of AOL and allows us to remain laser-focused on our strategy and future growth. As always, we know that our growth will be driven by the successful execution against our strategy and we will continue to take aggressive steps to move the company forward.

We are not sure selling patents to a business rival is a step to move the company forward.