Yahoo Reprises Its Google Legal Tactics
March 13, 2012
I read a couple of news stories by “real” journalists about Yahoo’s suing Facebook. A representative example of “real” journalism appears in “Yahoo Sues Facebook for Infringing 10 Patents.” Here’s the passage I noted:
Yahoo has used similar timing to its advantage in the past. Google agreed to issue shares to Yahoo nine days before Google went public in 2004 in exchange for a license to Yahoo’s patents. Google later took a $201 million non-cash charge related to the transaction. In deciding to sue Facebook, Yahoo has retained the same law firm, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, used by Google and other manufacturers in many Android-related smartphone patent cases. Google is a player in social media with its Google+ service.
I recall to run up to Google’s initial public offering. Yahoo sued the Google. My recollection is that the allegations were related to Google’s advertising system and method. Yahoo obtained some know how when it purchased Overture. I think the Google spit out more than $200 million make the legal matter go away.
Here’s how I interpreted the Yahoo action. Yahoo sued Google for alleged infringement of the systems and methods for online advertising. Facebook has lots of Xooglers. Facebook developed online advertising. Therefore, maybe some Xooglers may ispired Yahoo’s action. I call this “where there are Xooglers, there is the possibility of intellectual fire.”
Those friendly, halcyon days in plastic fantastic land are now forever gone. Sniff. I smell a fire in the valley.
Stephen E Arnold, March 13, 2012
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