Online protests gather to sink Microsoft-Yahoo deal

Microsoft's $44.6 billion bid to acquire Yahoo is far from a done deal. Yet while Yahoo brass franticly looks for a suitor to rebuff Microsoft's offer, its loyal users are already mounting an impressive virtual protest. Hundreds have gathered on Flickr, Facebook and YouTube to attack the prospect of a Microsoft-Yahoo merger.

Some 1,500 Flickr users have formed a petition to voice their disapproval with Microsoft ownership of their beloved photo-sharing community. The concerns run the gamut from "hysterical" -- floating the prospect of Flickr users unable to upload photos unless they make the switch to Vista -- to the "vague" -- Microsoft's involvement would cause mass defections. As one petitioner writes: "Flickr has a great community and provides lots of inspiration, but if Flickr becomes part of the MS company, I'd have to delete all the images I've uploaded, and will not renew my membership. This was really, really really bad news."

Others are saying it with images, like Flickr user "jcrr".

That petitions have formed so quickly on social media forums had to be expected. It is these heavily trafficked forums where users go to rant and rave about the brands in their lives. They certainly weren't going to sit back and allow Yang & Co. to consider a proposal without voicing their concerns. It would be interesting to know how many of the protesters are shareholders. In the past, contentious bids would trigger hostile shareholder battles with customers (remember them?) left to grouse in private with little hope of influencing a deal. Could this be the first billion-dollar M&A deal sunk by an online protest? Stay tuned.

UPDATE: I based my weekly Times tech column on this protest. To read a lengthier analysis, click here.