Microsoft has an advertising deal in place with the Facebook social networking site, and if Facebook goes to Yahoo or anyone else they will have to pay Microsoft a "breakup fee."
A report at the New York Post cited unnamed sources on the breakup fee story. Whoever might buy Facebook could end up paying off Microsoft too. The amount would be several million dollars, but reportedly not more than $10 million.
Yahoo has been prominently discussed as Facebook"s buyer. That would involved a 10-digit price tag for CEO Terry Semel and company to get past the board of directors. Such a blockbuster deal would run counter to what has been Yahoo"s strategy in practice, which involves purchasing smaller startup firms for a few million dollars.