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July 10, 2008
Is Microsoft Buying Yahoo For Overture's PPC Patents?
David Utter over at WebProNews has written an insightful piece on the possibility Microsoft wants Yahoo mainly for the old Overture patents it holds, in particular patent 361.
Between his article which clarifies much of Usman Latif's posts on the topic as well as Latif's own detailed post from 2005 when Google fired the employee for blogging - shows a very good conspiracy and Machivellian business theory.
Is 'patent 361' the Holy Grail of our industry? Does it hold the power of the search engine industry? Could we see a long-haired Tom Hanks snooping around San Jose this year looking for clues?
When you see the government investigating the Yahoo/Google deal, and the cries about the possible Microsoft buying of Yahoo, this makes for even more high drama.
Is Jerry Yang refusing Microsoft advances because he knows the secrets. Is patent 361 the National Treasure like source of all riches in paid search?
This definitely gives a different perspective to the entire situation. I am waiting for David Brown to write the novel.
Posted by Frank Watson on July 10, 2008 12:49 PM
Comments
Searchquant July 10, 2008 1:34 PM
But you to admit it adds a little more interest to the situation.
There was always the question of how the deal worked out and why Yahoo dropped the blob as they called Overture in place of the Google like app.
AussieWebmaster July 10, 2008 1:39 PM
It's very likely that the patent portfolio is high on their agenda. I'd always put the Patents down as one of the reasons for the Yahoo acquisition of Overture in the first place.
Teddie July 11, 2008 4:04 AM
Though I think and have seen the true possible outcomes
AussieWebmaster July 11, 2008 4:41 AM
Can someone explain some of the things that microsoft might do with the patent if they were to acquire it?
Sunshine July 11, 2008 5:34 AM
IMO Microsoft wants Yahoo for both Y!'s marketshare *and* the patent, but I would be very surprised if the Yahoo/Google patent suit settlement left Google with the type of negative exposure that the article implies. I say that for two reasons:
1) Google's not stupid;
2) At the time of the settlement Yahoo was not in nearly as dire straits in their search business that they are now, and it's thus unlikely they prevented Google from reaching the type of closure they needed to move forward with their IPO.