It is astounding that eBay forked over $3B for Skype and didn’t actually buy Skype’s underlying technology.
It is amazing that they didn’t realize this and outright criminal that they didn’t get a fully-paid, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive (exclusive for the purposes of international calling) license.
Om Malik has all of the links you need:
- Skype Founders suggest they still own underlying technology to Skype
- Will Joltid turn eBay’s planned Skype IPO into a nightmare?
- Why eBay Should Accept Skype Founders’ Buyout Offer.
Now this will probably get settled one way or another, and as a non-Skype user, non-eBay shareholder, I don’t really care either way.
But a few points:
- this proves that just because you hire expensive lawyers doesn’t mean anything.
- One more example of upward failing, and to think this woman, Meg Whitman, could have been our Treasury secretary. I am sorry how wonderful Ms. Whitman was, this was done on her watch and it’s just appaling in terms of botched due diligence.
- With all due respect to Skype founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, you have to wonder, will anyone ever buy a company from them again? I mean, sure Viacom/CBS and a number of VCs invested in their next venture Joost (hmm… is there such a thing as karma?), but this was before this bit of news was out. Ultimately, I am not sure I would have a lot of comfort and confidence doing a deal with these guys.
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