Key Developments For Yahoo! Inc.
Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO.O) (Nasdaq)
MODAVOX INC. Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Yahoo! Inc.
MODAVOX INC. announced that it has filed a Complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, asserting two Causes of Action against Yahoo! Inc. for Patent Infringement related to Modavox owned United States Patent No. 6,594,691 (Method and System for Adding Function to a Web Page) and United States Patent No. 7,269,636 (Method and Code Module For Adding Function to a Web Page). Modavox's Complaint specifically asserts that Yahoo! Inc. has operated a business for profit that uses Modavox's technology claimed and described in the '691 and '636 Patents without having sought or received Modavox's authorization to use its patented technology. Modavox's Complaint alleges that Modavox has suffered irreparable harm as a result of the alleged infringement and thus seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions against Yahoo! Inc. to prevent Yahoo! Inc. from making, using, selling and offering for sale any products or services which infringe the '691 or '636 Patents, or otherwise inducing or contributing to the alleged infringement. Modavox's Complaint also seeks monetary damages in an amount to be determined at trial, but in no event less than a reasonable royalty, to compensate Modavox for Yahoo! Inc.'s alleged infringement, as well as a finding that Yahoo! Inc.'s infringement was willful and deliberate, which finding could entitle Modavox to up to three-times actual damages.
Microsoft Corp. Eyes Yahoo! Inc. Partnership Outside U.S-Reuters
Reuters reported that Microsoft Corp. said it could look to extend its search engine partnership with Yahoo! Inc. outside the United States, if it gets regulatory approval. Earlier this year Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo! Inc. signed a 10 year Web search partnership, a pact that U.S. and European antitrust regulators are evaluating.
Yahoo! Inc. Teams With OneRiot On Real Time Search-Reuters
Reuters reported that Yahoo! Inc., looking to match rivals in providing up-to-the-minute internet search results, is running tests with several real-time search partners. Among the companies providing real-time results to Yahoo on a trial basis is OneRiot, whose data will be available initially to about 10% of Yahoo's users. Yahoo's deal with OneRiot, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, does not include any revenue sharing elements.
Carl Icahn Quits Yahoo! Inc. Board-Reuters
Reuters reported that Carl Icahn gave up his seat on the Yahoo! Inc. Board of Directors. A Yahoo spokeswoman said there were no immediate plans to find a replacement for Icahn, and that the Board would operate with 11 Directors for the time being.
Yahoo! Inc. Issues Q4 2009 Outlook; EBITDA Outlook In Line With Analysts' Estimates
Yahoo! Inc. announced that for the fourth quarter of 2009, it expects GAAP revenue to be in the range of $1.600 to $1.700 billion, non-GAAP operating income before depreciation, amortization, and stock-based compensation expense to be in the range of $400 to $450 million and income from operations to be in the range of $135 to $155 million. According to Reuters Estimates, analysts on an average were expecting the Company to report EBITDA of $433 million for the same period.
