Brock realism more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Brock Meeks <Brock.Meeks () msnbc com>
Date: September 12, 2005 6:57:06 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: RE: [IP] more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype


Marc says it's a "shame" Skype couldn't "resist" temptation.

Good grief, with a nearly $5 billion carrot (if all financial incentives
are met) dangling in front of them, the Skype folks would have been
IDIOTS not to take eBay's dumb money.

The stench of Internet arrogance a la Steve Case of AOL buying Time
Warner is again in the air.  One can only hope this ludicrous paring
comes back to bite Meg Whitman in the ass.

Shame on HER for wasting that kind of money on a speculative deal that
won't be accretive until Christ returns in the clouds.  That money could
have been returned to shareholders, or spent on humanitarian efforts
or... whatever.

But let's cut the crap about knocking Skype for "selling out."  In this
deal, they are the only smart ones.

I say cash the check, sell the eBay stock as soon as you can and invent
something else wild and wonderful that we all can't live without.

--Brock

-----Original Message-----
From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net]
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 06:10
To: Ip Ip
Subject: [IP] more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype



Begin forwarded message:

From: Marc <marcaniballi () hotmail com>
Date: September 12, 2005 4:23:22 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: RE: [IP] more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype


Thank you Gregory;

You have confirmed my suspicions. Although Lauren's call for
disclosure is a
worthy effort in some respects, to me it seems rather late for that now.
Regardless of the disclosure of Skype's crypto implementation, the fact
remains that should eBay decide, or the US Government mandate, that
Skype
have a backdoor, then the next version of Skype will likely have just
that.
Given the overall maturity of the technology base, I suspect a more
"private" competitor will emerge at this point, and Skype will become
just
another IP Softphone. While there are currently no guarantees that
Skype is
secure, under the eBay umbrella, which makes them subject to US law,
there
is now a guarantee that it will be insecure (open to prying law
enforcement
and skilled hacking ears).

It's a shame that they couldn't resist the temptation - I really
can't see
that they actually NEEDED eBay.

Marc

-----Original Message-----
From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net]
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 3:53 PM
To: Ip Ip
Subject: [IP] more on query on eBay to Acquire Skype



Begin forwarded message:

From: Gregory Hicks <ghicks () well com>
Date: September 12, 2005 1:58:02 PM EDT
To: ip () v2 listbox com, dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] query on eBay to Acquire Skype
Reply-To: Gregory Hicks <ghicks () well com>






> From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
> Subject: [IP] query on eBay to Acquire Skype
> Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 12:47:07 -0400
> To: Ip Ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Marc <marcaniballi () hotmail com>
> Date: September 12, 2005 12:24:05 PM EDT
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: RE: [IP] eBay to Acquire Skype
>
>
> Dave;
>
> Can anyone on IP project what sort of US regulatory exposure this
> will place upon Skype? I have my suspicions, but I would prefer the
> opinions of those more immersed in the field.

Well...  Based on eBay's stated "privacy" policy, this will open up pen
tracing to LEOs with just a phone call at the least.

At the worst, Skype users will soon be getting new software that allows
LEOs to backdoor skype crypto and get free access to those phone calls
(also based on eBay's stated "privacy policy"...




> Marc
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net]
> Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 10:44 AM
> To: Ip Ip
> Subject: [IP] eBay to Acquire Skype
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Monty Solomon <monty () roscom com>
> Date: September 12, 2005 7:50:46 AM EDT
> To: undisclosed-recipient:;
> Subject: eBay to Acquire Skype
>
>
>
>        eBay to Acquire Skype
>        - Sep 12, 2005 06:00 AM (BusinessWire)
>
> LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2005--eBay Inc.
> (Nasdaq:EBAY)(
>
> www.ebay.com
>
> ) has agreed to acquire Luxembourg-based
> Skype Technologies SA, the global Internet communications company, for
> approximately $2.6 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock, plus
> potential performance-based consideration. The acquisition will
> strengthen eBay's global marketplace and payments platform, while
> opening several new lines of business and creating significant new
> monetization opportunities for the company. The deal also represents a
> major opportunity for Skype to advance its leadership in Internet
> voice communications and offer people worldwide new ways to
> communicate in a global online era. Skype, eBay and PayPal will create
> an unparalleled ecommerce and communications engine for buyers and
> sellers around the world.
>
> ..
>
>        - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=51709287
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------
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-------------------------------------------------------------------
Gregory Hicks                        | Principal Systems Engineer
Cadence Design Systems               | Direct:   408.576.3609
555 River Oaks Pkwy M/S 6B1          | Fax:      408.894.3400
San Jose, CA 95134                   | Internet: ghicks () cadence com

I am perfectly capable of learning from my mistakes.  I will surely
learn a great deal today.

"A democracy is a sheep and two wolves deciding on what to have for
lunch.  Freedom is a well armed sheep contesting the results of the
decision." - Benjamin Franklin

"The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they
be properly armed." --Alexander Hamilton




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