Flickr
Flickr is a photo-sharing and photography-community platform developed by LudicorpLudicorpLudicorp was the startup behind Flickr, initially developing the online game Game Neverending before turning to photo sharing.Open the full entry, formerly owned by YahooYahooYahoo is an internet brand founded by Jerry Yang and David Filo in 1994, with email, search, news, finance, sports, and advertising businesses. It developed from a web directory into a portal, underwent major acquisitions and security incidents, and sold its operating business in 2017, when the original listed company became Altaba. Apollo-managed funds acquired the brand’s operating business in 2021. Yahoo launched the AI answer service Scout in 2026.Open the full entry and acquired by SmugMug in 2018.
Contents8 sections
Key facts
February 10, 2004Public launch
Stewart Butterfield and Caterina Fake launched Flickr at the O’Reilly Emerging Tech conference in San Diego.[1]
2004Photography-community features
The platform added tags, photostreams, comments, favorites, and groups.[1]
March 20, 2005Yahoo acquisition agreement
Yahoo reached an acquisition agreement with developer Ludicorp.[2]
January 16, 2008The Commons pilot
Flickr and the Library of Congress launched The Commons, allowing the public to explore historical photographs and contribute tags and knowledge.[3]
April 20, 2018SmugMug acquisition announced
Flickr announced its move from Yahoo and Oath to photography-focused SmugMug, initially retaining existing accounts and login credentials.[4]
March 2019Yahoo-account requirement removed
Users could register with other email addresses without requiring a Yahoo account.[1]
December 2022Flickr Foundation founded
The nonprofit Flickr Foundation was established to support long-term preservation of photographic heritage.[5]
Sources
- 20 Years of Significant Moments in Flickr’s Development (opens in a new window)
- Yahoo actually does acquire Flickr (opens in a new window)
- Many hands make light work (opens in a new window)
- Flickr agrees to be acquired by SmugMug – Q&A (opens in a new window)
- Why we’re doing this (opens in a new window)