Microsoft In Talks To Buy Claria

axonis writes "For the last two weeks, Microsoft has been in talks to buy Claria, an adware marketer formerly called Gator, and best known for its pop-up ads and software that tracks people visiting Web sites. The offer price on the table as recently as Wednesday was $500 million. One person briefed on the deal said there was opposition within Microsoft to the acquisition. Analysts said Microsoft would probably be most interested in the long-term potential of Claria's personalization software rather than its pop-up ads."

Comments

They should combine the names to get ...

[xmas2003]

Gatersoft - eats up all the competition.

Nothing new here...move along

[Rick Zeman]

The anti-deal group, the person said, fears the move could bring an outcry as critics portray Microsoft as a corporate Big Brother, trying to track every mouse click on the Web and profit from it.

There's that perception with or without Claria's purchase.

Interesting strategy...

[TripMaster Monkey]

So let me get this straight...in its attempt to 'catch Google' (one of the most beloved companies in the business), Microsoft is persuing the acquisition of Claria (formerly Gator, one of the most reviled companies in the business).

I wonder if Steve Ballmer has any extra pot he can sell me...