Facebook buys some of AOL's patents from Microsoft

Social network Facebook is acquiring some of the patents previously owned by AOL from Microsoft. Microsoft recently acquired a package of approximately 900 patents from AOL for $1 billion.

It has now become known that Facebook will receive some of the patents for $550 million.

After the deal closes, Microsoft will retain approximately 275 AOL patents, as well as several patent applications and licenses.

Facebook needs the patents to defend itself against claims from Yahoo!, the company that recently sued Facebook just before its IPO.