Facebook buys patents from IBM to defend itself

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) - Facebook has acquired patents from IBM as it girds itself for litigation, including a lawsuit by Yahoo.

A company spokesman on Thursday confirmed the purchase but did not provide details.

Earlier, Bloomberg News said the company acquired 750 patents covering technologies dealing with software and networking. It cited a person with knowledge of the transaction who was not named in the report Thursday.

Last week, Yahoo Inc. sued Facebook, saying the social networking giant had infringed on 10 of its patents covering advertising, privacy controls and social networking. Facebook had said it found the action "puzzling" and vowed to defend itself.

IBM declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.