Sullivan & Worcester LLP is representing Where Inc., a Boston-based
location media company, in its acquisition by PayPal, a division of eBay Inc.
Where, which has raised nearly $20 million in venture capital since being
founded as uLocate Communications in 2004, builds location-based mobile apps
that have been launched across every major mobile device platform -- including
Android, iPhone and Blackberry -- and boasts about four million active users a
month. The smartphone app shows personalized listings for restaurants, bars,
merchants and events based on a consumer’s location. Where also operates a
hyper-local advertising network giving consumers access to pertinent, real-time
deals.
The acquisition, expected to close next week, will integrate PayPal's payment
processing technology into Where's platform allowing consumers to take advantage
of local deals and obtaining more value when they shop online while providing
merchants with enhanced services.
In December, Where announced it had secured broad patents on geo-fencing, a
technology that allows mobile advertisers to target consumers by location.
A spokesperson for eBay reported that the California company will not be
making any changes to Where and that the local company will remain in
Boston.
According to Kim Herman, partner
and leader of Sullivan & Worcester's Trademark, Copyright & Licensing
Group, "The purchase is an exciting opportunity for Where and for the Boston
community. Not only will the acquisition combine Where’s location-based services
with PayPal’s robust payment processing system, but it will continue Where's
drive to bring huge innovation to Boston's vibrant technology sector and the red
hot market for location-based services."
The Sullivan & Worcester team, handling intellectual property, open
source and certain corporate aspects of the transaction, is being led by Ms.
Herman. Goodwin Procter LLP also is representing Where. Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
is representing eBay.