Microsoft Buys Netscape For $1 Billion, Sort Of
Remember Netscape, a little web browser that could not and how Microsoft had to pay AOL $750 million for abusing its monopoly power?
Do you remember when Microsoft tried to buy Netscape back in 1994? Turns out, Microsoft has finally realized its dream.
Why? Well, if you are a huge fan of Netscape web browser then we have some good news for you, in a deal worth just over $1 billion ($1.056 billion to be exact), Microsoft has acquired all the Netscape (and other) patents from AOL. Although not many details were revealed, other than the patent count (800), the transaction is expected to be finalized by the end of this year. However, don’t get too excited yet as the branding itself will remain the property of AOL.
“This is a valuable portfolio that we have been following for years and analyzing in detail for several months,” said Brad Smith, General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft. “AOL ran a competitive auction and by participating, Microsoft was able to achieve our two primary goals: obtaining a durable license to the full AOL portfolio and ownership of certain patents that complement our existing portfolio.”
What could Microsoft possibly do with these patents? Let us know!
About (Author Profile)
Vygantas is a former web designer whose projects are used by companies such as AMD, NVIDIA and departed Westood Studios. Being passionate about software, Vygantas began his journalism career back in 2007 when he founded FavBrowser.com. Having said that, he is also an adrenaline junkie who enjoys good books, fitness activities and Forex trading.
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Oh goodness!! I have no idea of where this is going, but this can’t be right… Be afraid! D:
Yes, this can be right! :)
They don’t care, they just buy out or force out market share one way or another. There is another war coming what else.
I bet they are just dying to know the secret of this browser suddently crashing out of the blue sky even when being in idle mode showing just a blank page!? – I remember countless of Page Fault crashes in those days. In all “fairness” Netscape really ought to be renamed to Net(E)scape…
This is just armoury for patent warfare. Nothing to see here. Move along.