Skype founders' company to sue eBay

A company owned by the founders of Skype has filed a copyright infringement suit against the internet phone service and parent eBay – an action that could scupper eBay’s plans to sell Skype for about $2bn (€1.35bn) to a group of private investors.

Joltid, owned by Skype founders Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, filed the suit in the US District Court of Northern California.

The complaint alleges Skype violated an agreement over the use of critical peer-to-peer communication technology that Skype licenses from Joltid for use in its software, which routes phone calls over the Web.

In addition to Skype and eBay, the lawsuit also names as defendants all of the private investors who have agreed to buy Skype.

Joltid is seeking an injunction on Skype’s use of the technology as well as damages it estimates could amount to more than $75m (€50.85m) per day.