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Microsoft Makes a Bid for Yahoo

Microsoft offers to buy the search portal for $44.6 Billion.Fearing that they are slipping behind Google, Microsoft is making a big play to take control of Yahoo.“We have great respect for Yahoo, and together, we can offer an increasingly exciting set of solutions for consumers, publishers, and advertisers while becoming better positioned to compete in […]

Microsoft offers to buy the search portal for $44.6 Billion.

Fearing that they are slipping behind Google, Microsoft is making a big play to take control of Yahoo.

“We have great respect for Yahoo, and together, we can offer an increasingly exciting set of solutions for consumers, publishers, and advertisers while becoming better positioned to compete in the online-services market,” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement.

Yahoo said in a responding statement that its board “will evaluate this proposal carefully and promptly, in the context of Yahoo’s strategic plans, and pursue the best course of action to maximize long-term value for shareholders.”

If Yahoo accepts the $31 a share buyout, Microsoft will finally have the tools and traffic, to compete against Google for online advertising.

“Today, the market is increasingly dominated by one player, who is consolidating its dominance through acquisition,” Microsoft said. “Together, Microsoft and Yahoo can offer a credible alternative.”

It is quite ironic for Microsoft to be talking about Google in much the same way people talked about them during their anti-trust battle.

[via CNET]

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Add comment February 2nd, 2008

TiVo Wins Court Ruling, Leaving Dish Networks DVRs in Doubt

TiVo won another round in its legal battle with Dish Network. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a ruling from a lower court that Dish Networks violated TiVO’s patent on a ‘multimedia time warping system’. Besides the fact that Dish is on the hook for $89.6 million in damages, they might […]

TiVo won another round in its legal battle with Dish Network. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a ruling from a lower court that Dish Networks violated TiVO’s patent on a ‘multimedia time warping system’. Besides the fact that Dish is on the hook for $89.6 million in damages, they might have to stop selling DVRs and disable all functionality from their current recorders. That would mean some real pissed off customers.

With the validity of the patents, the damage award, and the jury verdict all upheld upon appeal, Dish appears to be out of options. The satellite TV provider is now faced with the unpleasant decision of whether to stop selling DVRs and shut off its DVR service, hope against hope that the Supreme Court decides to hear the case, or write an eight- or nine-figure check to TiVo to cover damages and license the patents. At this point, the latter option is Dish Network’s best bet.

This is obviously terrible news for Dish and great news for DirecTV, who have standing agreements with TiVo and still uses some of it’s software on their DVRs.

[via arstechnica]

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Add comment February 2nd, 2008