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Court threat to Skype sale
17.09.09
A company owned by the founders of Skype is suing its current owner, eBay, over copyright infringement, in a move that could jeopardise plans to sell the internet phone service for $2 billion (£1.2 billion).
Joltid, which is owned by Skype founders Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, alleges Skype broke a licensing agreement over the use of communications technology which routes phone calls over the web.
It is the latest in a flurry of legal actions between the two companies as Joltid is also suing eBay over alleged Skype licensing agreements.
However, today's case has the extra spice that Joltid has also named as defendants all the private investors who have agreed to buy Skype.
That deal depends on reaching a settlement over the legal actions.
