eBay says it may have to shut down Skype due to a licensing dispute with the founders of the internet telephony service, according to reports in the Sydney Morning Herald.
The online auction giant bought Skype from entrepreneurs Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis for $US2.6 billion in 2005, and has since been licensing the technology from the founders’ new company, Joltid, but the pair recently decided to revoke the licensing agreement.
In a quarterly report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, eBay made reference to the fact that if it lost the right to use the software it would most likely have to shut Skype down.
The case is set to go to trial in June next year.
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