Skype Founders Opposed Planned Sale, Files case against eBay

Summary: Skype founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis accused the prospected buyer of the internet communications service of “misappropriate” trading secrets that allowed it to bid for the acquisition of Skype.

The two former owners wanted to buy back the said company, which was earlier offered by eBay for $2 billion.

The founders of popular Internet communications service provider Skype on Friday filed a law suit against online auction company eBay over the planned sale of the service, saying that the deal was made using “misappropriated” trade.

Based on the documents filed at the Delaware District Court, Joltid and Joost, the companies owned by founders of Skype communication service accused former Joost chief executive Mike Volpi and his company Index Ventures of using “misappropriate” trading secrets in order for it to qualify in the bidding for Skype.

Skype founders Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom said that Skype, eBay, and other investors in the sand deal were currently facing other charges regarding the sale of the communication service company, saying that the group violated copyright laws.

It will be recalled the Skype founders have earlier filed a suit against eBay and their former company at a British court after being denied the right to buy back the company.

Friis, a Danish national, and Zennstrom, a Swedish national, sold Skype in 2005 for more than $3.1 billion.

Despite reports that the two wanted to buy back the company, eBay has announced that it will be selling 65 percent of its shares in Skype to Silver Lake Partners, Index Ventures, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and Andreessen Horowitz for some two billion dollars.