Tag Archives: Web 2.0

Copywrong: Brilliantly Disruptive Startups from Napster to Pinterest

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Antone Johnson • 0 Comments

The law simply hasn’t kept pace with the largest upheaval in the distribution and consumption of content in human history, which has taken place in less than two decades since the consumer Internet was born in 1994. To a large extent, members of the general public have little idea what copyright is, how it works, or how it applies online, if at all.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: digital media, entrepreneurship, law, social media, startups, Web 2.0

When Good Legal Advice Is Worth $10 Million An Hour

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Antone Johnson • 1 Comment

One of the highest profile liquidity events in the first half of 2012 was Facebook’s deal to acquire Instagram for $1 billion. The popular mobile photo-sharing service should fit well into Facebook’s growth strategy as a public company, but its eye-popping valuation — more than that of the New York Times, for those keeping score… Continue Reading

Filed Under: digital media, entrepreneurship, law, liquidity events, Silicon Valley, social media, startups, Web 2.0

Plenty of Fish in the Sea, But Please Don’t Fugu Me

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Antone Johnson • 0 Comments

California Attorney General Kamala Harris recently announced an agreement with three of the largest online dating sites: eHarmony, Match.com and Spark Networks (parent company of JDate and ChristianMingle, among others). In much the same way Facebook reached an agreement regarding child safety with AG’s nationwide in 2008, it appears the dating sites agreed to some voluntary… Continue Reading

Filed Under: law, public policy, social media

From a Twinkle in the Founder’s Eye: Intellectual Property for New Startups

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Antone Johnson • 6 Comments

Second in importance only to talented people, IP in all its forms is the key asset comprising most of the value of any tech startup. Nevertheless, even industry veterans are often fuzzy on the definitions and boundaries between different types of IP and the ways they can be protected and exploited. Hence this “Cliff’s Notes” refresher, to be followed by a discussion of why it matters.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: law, startups, Web 2.0

Evaluating the Risks in Facebook’s IPO: Would You Invest?

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Antone Johnson • 1 Comment

Facebook is forthcoming about the challenges of mobile: No revenue currently generated from mobile advertising; unclear how much mobile use could be monetized; failure to solve this puzzle combined with a dramatic shift toward mobile usage could be a serious problem; and they don’t control the iOS and Android platforms. Frankly, if there were one thing that persuaded me not to invest in FB at current valuations, this would be it.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: digital media, law, liquidity events, social media, startups, Web 2.0

Keep It Under Your Hat: Valuation Caps and the $650 Million Sale of MySpace for $125 Million

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Antone Johnson • 1 Comment

Valuation caps can shape the fundamentals of an exit, redistribute value among stakeholders, or even kill a deal altogether. Never missing an opportunity for a good war story, I’d like to revisit one high-profile transaction, the $650 million acquisition of MySpace by Fox Interactive Media in 2005.… Continue Reading

Filed Under: angel investing, digital media, entrepreneurship, liquidity events, social media, startups, venture capital, Web 2.0