( Mashable ) -- The patent war between Facebook and Yahoo may be only just starting . A new report says Facebook has acquired 750 patents from computer-systems giant IBM . The news comes shortly after Yahoo sued Facebook for patent infringement over 10 of its software patents . A `` person with knowledge of the transaction '' tipped the news to Bloomberg Businessweek , though the deal has n't been made public yet . Compared to other tech companies , Facebook 's arsenal of patents is rather meager : The company has just 56 patents compared with the thousands stockpiled by the likes of Microsoft and Apple . However , the report says , Facebook has applied to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for at least 500 more . Apparently it did n't want to wait for those to be approved and chose to take a shortcut in stocking up its patent portfolio . The lawsuit from Yahoo , which has recently had a wholesale change in management and is expected to announce layoffs , likely provided the motivation . See also : Tech industry scorns Yahoo over Facebook patent suit . Many tech companies are now using patents strategically to both generate revenue and discourage competition . For example , Google licenses many patents from Microsoft in the making of the Android platform , which provides a steady cash flow for Microsoft . In other cases , such as the many patent lawsuits between Apple and Samsung , patents are used to shut competitors out of entire regions ( though that 's rarely the outcome ) . IBM has been friendly in selling patents to younger tech companies in the past . In January , Google bought 217 patents from the IBM , including one for a `` semantic social network . '' Reps from Facebook did n't immediately respond to a request for comment . An IBM rep declined comment . What do you think of Facebook 's patent grab ? Share your thoughts in the comments . See the original article on Mashable . © 2011 MASHABLE.com . All rights reserved .
A report says Facebook has acquired several patents from operating - systems giant IBM . Facebook has just 56 patents compared with the number stockpiled by the likes of Apple . Many tech companies are using patents to generate revenue and avoid competition .