Attention Marc Andreessen: Microsoft Just Bought (Part Of) Netscape

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Attention Marc Andreessen: Microsoft Just Bought (Part Of) Netscape

Here?s a deal that would have made many minds explode back in the 1990s: Microsoft is buying Netscape. Or at least, most of the important parts of the company that used to be synonymous with ?Internet?.

That?s a side component of the $1 billion patent sale that AOL and Microsoft announced this morning. As part of the transaction, AOL announced that it was selling off ?stock of an AOL subsidiary? at a loss, in a move that?s supposed to reduce its overall tax bill.

AOL didn?t disclose the name of that subsidiary in its press release, but a person familiar with the transaction has clued me in: It?s Netscape.

Microsoft will buy the underlying patents for the old browser, but AOL will hang onto the brand, and the related Netscape businesses, which make up a grab-bag of stuff these days: An ISP, a URL, a brand name, etc.

All of which probably makes sense on someone?s ledger books. But the transaction may still make a few heads spin, at least for people who remember Internet history and/or have access to Wikipedia.

Source: All Things D

[Miuku.]

It looks like I may need a spatula.

[Ci7]

but why the hell would they went antiquated and defecate browser tech?

i mean it sound overpriced patents :p

[Growled Member]

That's just pouring salt into open wounds.