Flickr devotees use images to protest Microsoft's bid for Yahoo

Computerworld - While the drama surrounding Microsoft's maneuvering to acquire Yahoo continues to play out with financial and industry pundits alike weighing the pros and cons of the deal, a different sort of analysis is playing out on the Yahoo-owned Flickr, photo sharing site.

More than 1,500 Flickr users have joined a group called "Microsoft: Keep Your Grubby Hands Off Our Flickr," and they have uploaded more than 200 images that protest the potential deal. The images -- which include a "Blue Screen of Death" altered with Flickr's distinctive blue and pink colors, a new take on Steve Ballmer's infamous sweaty appeal to "Developers, Developers, Developers" at a Microsoft event, and simple tombstones marking the perceived death of the site -- all aim to ward off the notion of Microsoft taking over ownership of Yahoo.

On the discussion forum of the group protesting the deal, a Flickr user identified as "Naquada" said, "One of my main concerns is the ownership of my images."

Naquada went on to say, "At the moment I am happy with the service that I get from Yahoo, however I disagree with Microsoft's practices, methods, and regard of privacy of users of its site, and software. I also have concerns over the security of Microsoft developed sites and software."

The user went on to note that if the deal is closed, he or she would be forced to remove all their content from the site.

Here are some of the images added to Flickr to protest a takeover by Microsoft.

Here's one Flickr user's take on Microsoft gobbling up Yahoo:

Another Flickr user envisions how photographers will fare under the control of Microsoft's Ballmer in this reference to the sweaty CEO's strident 2001 appeal to developers:

This Flickr image shows a user's fear the Flickr will become available in Basic, Home and Professional Editions under Microsoft:

With a nod to popular culture, this image, pays homage to a devoted Britney Spears fan who gained fame with a tearful YouTube appeal dedicated to the pop star:

A new "Blue Screen of Death," Flickr-style:

Several users offered versions of this stark visual commentary on Flickr's expected fate:

A possible new logo for Yahoo under Microsoft's control?