Facebook Acquires Hundreds of Patents from IBM

According to a report, Facebook intends to improve its position in patent infringement suits. The patent package apparently covers "various technologies such as software and networking." So far, Facebook has only been granted 56 patents, while 503 are pending in the approval process.

Facebook is in a similar position as Google, who recently complained that young companies have a tough time inventing and competing as they are hit with patent infringement lawsuits, often from patent trolls that buy up old patents, create business entities around individual patents and then launch a patent infringement lawsuit in the hope a corporation is willing to settle the suit for license fees rather than going through a patent battle that may result in even higher license fees. Google is believed to have purchased more than 2000 patents in 2011 alone.

For IBM, this deal is just part of its patent monetization business, which has clearly been heating up lately. Overall, the deal is unlikely to affect IBM's patent base in a noticeable way. The company has led patent approvals for 19 years straight and was granted 6,180 patents in 2011.

  • rantoc
    Yeah, the patent system is more about bullying the competition than actual invention those days it would seem. Hardly surprising when everything can be patented! It would not surprise me if someone even have patent to breathe air!
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    rantocIt would not surprise me if someone even have patent to breathe air!That is patent #976584625468 it will be called iAir
    Reply
  • chumly
    Old system fail. Needs update.
    Reply
  • alidan
    chumlyOld system fail. Needs update.needs no update, just needs a new branch to deal with tech pattents exclusively.
    Reply
  • shardey
    Acquisition to protect them from Yahoo?
    Reply
  • __-_-_-__
    patentrols part II
    Reply
  • velocityg4
    alidanneeds no update, just needs a new branch to deal with tech pattents exclusively.
    For one thing. Since the patent system wasn't meant to hinder innovation. Computing tech patents need to have much shorter lifespans given how quickly the landscape changes. It's not like a loom, harvester or cotton gin were increasing exponentially every year or two. Computer tech patents should be one to two years.

    They should also be specific, require a functioning product and be a significant development. Not something silly like swipe to unlock, slight variation in design, or appearance of a case. In regards to cases that is something more for a trademark or copyright. Patents should be reserved for software and hardware like the first GUI, mouse, LCD, facial recognition, &c.
    Reply
  • alidan
    velocityg4For one thing. Since the patent system wasn't meant to hinder innovation. Computing tech patents need to have much shorter lifespans given how quickly the landscape changes. It's not like a loom, harvester or cotton gin were increasing exponentially every year or two. Computer tech patents should be one to two years.They should also be specific, require a functioning product and be a significant development. Not something silly like swipe to unlock, slight variation in design, or appearance of a case. In regards to cases that is something more for a trademark or copyright. Patents should be reserved for software and hardware like the first GUI, mouse, LCD, facial recognition, &c.
    you have to make a difference between corporate and individual patents too. an individual may not be able to get a working product out, but could to the research and possibly find the solution that a corporation didn't.

    i don't believe patents should be buyable in tech, if a company goes under, public domain.

    Reply
  • jimoreon
    its the beginning of patent war.... we'll see who win and fall
    Reply
  • anonymous98273198
    Please, for the love of God, sell ANYONE patents before you give them to Facebook.

    Facebook is a data-whoring POS that will eventually be used to prosecute 90% of people, ever want to take FB to a court of law, better hope you don't have anything stupid on FB.

    Stop giving away all your information toolbags.
    Reply