ebay

eBay announced an agreement Wednesday to acquire Gmarket for a price of up to $1.2 billion, and Yahoo has agreed to sell its 10 percent stake in the South Korean e-commerce site in a move that would raise about $120 million.

Gmarket's board unanimously approved eBay's tender offer, in which the online auction and commerce site will pay a cash price of 31,767 Korean won, or $24, per share for all common shares and all American Depository Shares. eBay said it's assured of owning at least 67 percent of the company, and if it acquires … Read more

Update at 9:08 a.m. PDT, with a statement from Phorm.

Amazon.com has reportedly blocked the use of the controversial behavioral-advertising system Phorm on its British site, according to a BBC report.

The move comes as the European Commission takes action against the United Kingdom, alleging that the country failed to adequately comply with data protection laws in Europe.

In the case involving the United Kingdom, the Commission initiated action after complaints arose over Phorm trials British Telecom launched in 2006 and 2007, in which it allowed Phorm's behaviorial-tracking technology onto its network without users' consent, according … Read more

eBay announced Tuesday plans to spin off its Internet phone and video-conferencing service, Skype, with an IPO in the first half of next year.

The decision comes four years after online auction giant eBay acquired Skype for $2.6 billion, with the plans to offer customers the ability to discuss their transactions in real-time. But over the course of the four years, eBay found its acquisition failed to provide the synergies it sought.

John Donahoe, eBay's chief executive, said in a statement:

Skype is a great stand-alone business with strong fundamentals and accelerating momentum. But it's clear that … Read more

CNET News' Declan McCullagh explains the patchwork of statutes governing the tax treatment of digital downloads as well as the online purchase of goods and services. The long and short of it: make sure you know what to do before mailing in that envelope.

The final frontier: Solar energy from space

Microsoft seeks Windows Mobile update leader

Symantec: Security holes, malware spike in 2008

Microsoft closes Excel, Windows and Word holes targeted by exploits

Skype's founders are reportedly encountering turbulence in striking a deal with eBay to buy back the Internet phone service, despite the financial backing from a group of large private equity firms, according to The Wall Street Journal.

KKR, Warburg Pincus, Elevation Partners, and Providence are reportedly teaming up with founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, who reportedly are interested in repurchasing their company from eBay.

But eBay and the founders' group face a wide gap on price, the Journal reported, and a deal involving the private equity firms appears unlikely.

The private equity firms are reportedly interested in kicking … Read more

Amid stormy economic seas, auction giant eBay has thrown overboard StumbleUpon, the recommendation and "discovery" start-up that it purchased in 2007 for approximately $75 million.

Replacing corny nautical puns with corny alcohol puns, this looks like a symptom of the hangover that followed eBay's acquisition binge during Web 2.0's heyday. Even though many speculated that eBay would use StumbleUpon's technology to power product recommendations, the two companies just didn't find a fit--or a way to make a decent return. eBay's acquisition habits have been more vocally criticized when it comes to Skype, … Read more

In this case it refers to Jeff Bakalar's face, but it could also refer to Amazon, Steve Jobs, and Skype. Well at least in part. Find out all about all of these things in today's scary and caliente episode. --Tom

Episode 951

Amazon criticized for de-ranking ‘adult’ books http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10217715-93.html

… Amazon says it was a glitch…

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6651080.html

Amazon told gay writer it was due to “adult” material http://markprobst.livejournal.com/15293.html

GOOD READ: Was #amazonfail just massive trolling? http://tehdely.livejournal.com/88823.html… Read more

It seems that Bernie Madoff, the Fonzi of the Ponzi, had little use for technology for much of his life. He may not have even bothered making any online trades, for example.

However, he (or rather the trustees of whatever there is left of his swindling) has resorted to eBay to sell a couple of rather fine tickets to the New York Mets' opening day game.

These tickets--conveniently situated near the Mets dugout--are not the actual tickets that might have been graced with Madoff's behind. His trustees exchanged his chosen tickets for these in a deal with the Mets. … Read more

The founders of Skype may be trying to repurchase the Internet phone service, The New York Times reported Saturday.

Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis sold their company to eBay four years ago for $2.6 billion. Sources told The New York Times the two men have been meeting with private equity firms and gathering their own funds to finance the deal.

Since selling their company, the two have created venture capital firm Atomico.

According to Skype, its service has more than 405 million registered users. The compares with 54 million users when eBay bought it in 2005.

eBay has acknowledged … Read more