Briefs

Yahoo! is suing Facebook for allegedly infringing on 10 patents covering technologies such as online advertising, privacy controls, and messaging. These patents cover tasks required to “build a successful website,” such as information customization and social networking, according to the complaint filed on Mar. 12 in federal court. Yahoo has been losing search and advertising market share to Facebook and Google. In February it said the social network must pay to license its technology as other Web companies have done. Facebook, which is preparing for its initial public offering, says it will defend itself against what it calls a “puzzling” suit.

Volvo is close to signing Jeremy Lin to endorse cars in China, according to three people familiar with the matter who declined to be named because the talks are private. Volvo Cars, owned by Zhejiang Geely, is betting the New York Knicks point guard may help it make further inroads in China, the carmaker’s fastest-growing market. Volvo aims to double global sales, to 800,000 vehicles, by 2020. For Lin, the talks may lead to one of his first endorsement contracts since rising to fame in February.