Facebook to Fight Back in Yahoo Suit

Sources say Facebook will not roll over in patent suit

By Chris Gabbard · March 13, 2012 · 1 Comment

Get the WebProNews Newsletter:

At Gigaom.com, Om Malik is preparing to get the inside scoop on the Yahoo v. Facebook suit. According to Malik, Facebook is getting ready to fight Yahoo back, citing “sources close to Facebook.”

While the response isn’t fully formulated, the source says that Facebook will counter with its own patents.

Facebook has already stated to the press:

We’re disappointed that Yahoo, a longtime business partner of Facebook and a company that has substantially benefited from its association with Facebook, has decided to resort to litigation. Once again, we learned of Yahoo’s decision simultaneously with the media. We will defend ourselves vigorously against these puzzling actions.

Whether Facebook will use its own portfolio or get business partners at Microsoft to join in the fight is still speculation. We will update as news becomes available.

Top Rated White Papers and Resources

There is 1 Comment. Add Yours.

Like (0) Dislike (0)
Patently Obvious
March 16, 2012 at 2:37 pm

Facebook faces an interesting defense paradox – a Catch-22 as it were. All but one Yahoo! patent underwent extensive claim amendments AFTER Facebook was incorporated in 2004. Should Facebook elect to prove that they “invented” what Yahoo! amended into their patents, they may prevail. However, the proof of inventorship would then be ammunition to invalidate their own too-late-applied-for portfolio as you only have a year of commercial use before you’re disqualified from seeking or gaining patent protection.

Read a full report here: http://www.m-cam.com/patently-obvious/defriending-facebook-intellectual-property-analysis-yahoo-inc-v-facebook-inc

Reply