Yahoo is suing Facebook for infringement of ten patents just before its IPO. I don't see this lawsuit as a show stopper and submit it's typical when a tech company prepares for an IPO. Thus, the case is likely to proceed as follows: (1) Facebook licenses the patents; (2) Facebook challenges the patents in the PTO (requests reexamination) and requests a stay of the court case; and/or (3) Facebook defends itself in federal district court. Yahoo only hopes this tactic that resulted in 2.7M shares before Google's IPO works again.
Here's links to articles with details below:
Yahoo sues Facebook over patents -- USA Today
Yahoo sues Facebook in patent battle - San Jose Mercury News
Yahoo Sues Facebook for Patent Infringement, Which Social Network Calls "Puzzling" (Including Filing) - Allthingsd.com (WSJ)
Yahoo sues Facebook for infringing 10 patent - Reuters
Yahoo sues Facebook in a patent row - BBC News
Thanks to Alan Cooper for notifying of this development last night.
Copyright © 2012 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.
