Flickr Outrage at Possible Microsoft Yahoo Acquisition
February 1, 2008
Tech blogs are buzzing with the possibility of Microsoft acquiriing Yahoo (see here, here, here, here, here and here). Yahoo owns many different companies that operate somewhat independently of the main Yahoo website. One of those websites is the popular Flickr photosharing website. Wired's Compiler reports that at least some of these users are going to be very unhappy should Microsoft manage to acquire Yahoo. This photograph from Flickr user Gnal shows that at least some Flickr users are unhappy with the prospect of a Microsoft acquisition of Yahoo and thereby of Flickr.
A small but vocal minority on Flickr are already staging online protests at the prospect of a Microsoft takeover. Flickr is one of several popular Web 2.0 websites owned by Yahoo that loyal users fear will suffer under Microsoft ownership.
As soon as the news hit the wires that Microsoft is proposing a $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo, Flickr users began posting anti-Microsoft images, satirical "Flickr Live" logos and announcing they will abandon Flickr if it falls into Microsoft hands, fearing such a move would mark the beginning of the end.
"Well then, I'm outta here!" announced one Flickr user who goes by the name Judland.
While Microsoft has established its dominance on the desktop, its web properties lag behind those of Yahoo and others.
When it comes to building or acquiring hip, community-focused websites, Microsoft has fumbled where Yahoo has thrived. Last year, Microsoft tried its hand at a community site to compete with Flickr by adding photo-sharing capability to its Windows Live web service. But Windows Live Spaces doesn't have the cutting-edge user interface or the Web 2.0 cache that Flickr has. It also doesn't have the closely-knit community of passionate users that makes Flickr so successful.
Yahoo has made several high profile social media acquisitions including Flickr, del.icio.us, BuzzTracker and MyBlogLog. You can see a few other graphics on Flickr about an acquisition on Flickr here, here, here and here.
