Sometimes you just wonder what people were thinking. Why would you buy a technology and not really buy the technology? That’s what appears to have happened here. Back in 2005, eBay purchased Skype for billions of dollars. The actual amount was dependant on how Skype performed over the years. Now we find out that eBay didn’t really “buy” Skype at all. The problem is that Skype depends on key technology that is licensed from third parties. No license…no Skype. Shocker that the owners of the key technology are the original founders and ex-owners of Skype. Didn’t anybody at eBay think this was a problem?
Now there is a court battle over the licensing terms for this key piece of technology. Trial is scheduled for June 2010. eBay may have to change the way Skype works or shut it down if it loses the case.
We (and 480+ million of our closest friends) love Skype for its efficiency, speed, capabilities and cost. Who knows what’s going to happen here, but you better start planning for alternatives if you use Skype on a regular basis.
- John and Mike
(703) 359-0700
digitalsamurai@senseient.com
www.senseient.com
