Attention Marc Andreessen: Microsoft just bought (part of) Netscape

As part of a $1 billion patent sale announced this morning, Microsoft is buying stock in Netscape Communications from AOL at a bargain price. (AOL is selling the stock at a loss). As a result of the transaction, Microsoft will own a not insignificant percentage of its onetime rival. Netscape’s successor organization, the Mozilla Foundation, is not a party to the AOL deal, nor is it affected by it.