Yahoo! Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation

Filing 26

OPINION AND ORDER: Yahoo did not meet the heavy burden required to show that the Emergency Arbitrator exceeded his authority under 10 U.S.C. § 10(a)(4). See ReliaStar, 564 F.3d at 86 (If the parties agreed to submit an issue for arbitration, we will uphold a challenged award as long as the arbitrator offers a barely colorable justification for the outcome reached.) Yahoo similarly did not present sufficient evidence to show that that this Award was one of the exceedingly rare instances wher e an arbitrator manifestly disregards the law. See T.Co Metals, 592 F.3d at 340. Therefore, upon a review of the Award and upon due consideration of the arguments made by both parties, Yahoos motion to vacate must be denied. Finally, given that the p etition to vacate the Award is without merit and given the interest in enforcement of the equitable award made by the Arbitrator, the arbitration award should be confirmed. See 9 U.S.C. § 9 (a court must grant such an order [confirming an arbitr ation award] unless the award is vacated, modified, or corrected). Therefore, Yahoos motion to vacate the arbitration award is DENIED. Microsofts cross-petition to confirm the arbitration award is GRANTED. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Robert P. Patterson on 10/21/2013) (ama)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
--------------------------------------------------------------------X
YAHOO! INC.,
Petitioner and
Cross-Respondent,
- against -

13 CV 7237 (PART I)
OPINION & ORDER

MICROSOFT CORPORATION,
Respondent and
Cross-Petitioner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------X
ROBERT P. PATTERSON, JR., U.S.D.J.
On October15, 2013, Petitioner Yahoo! Inc. (“Petitioner” or “Yahoo”) moved this Court,
sitting in Part One, to vacate an arbitration award of equitable relief. (See Pet’r’s Mem. of Law
in Supp. of Pet. to Vacate Arbitration Award (“Pet’r’s Mem.).) On October 16, 2013,
Respondent Microsoft Corporation (“Respondent” or “Microsoft”) opposed the motion to vacate
and cross-petitioned for a confirmation of the arbitration award. (See Mem. in Opp’n to Yahoo’s
Pet. to Vacate & in Supp. of Microsoft’s Cross-Pet. to Confirm (“Opp’n Mem.”).) Yahoo filed a
reply on October 17, 2013 in further support of its motion to vacate and objecting to Microsoft’s
cross-petition, (see Reply Mem. in Further Supp. of Yahoo’s Pet. to Vacate & Opp’n to
Microsoft’s Pet. to Confirm (“Pet’r’s Reply”)), to which Microsoft replied solely on the issue of
the cross-petition to confirm the arbitration award. (See Reply Mem. in Further Supp. of
Microsoft’s Cross-Pet. (“Resp’t’s Reply”).) On October 18, 2013, Yahoo filed a sur-reply in
response to the legal authority cited by Microsoft in its reply. (See Pet’r’s Letter re Yahoo Inc.
v. Microsoft Corporation, 13 CIV 7237 (“Pet’r’s Letter”).)
The arbitration award (the “Award”) that is the subject of the instant dispute was issued
on October 14, 2013 by an Emergency Arbitrator appointed by the American Arbitration
1

Association (“AAA”). (See Decl. of Robert A. Fumerton in Supp. of Yahoo! Inc.’s Pet. to
Vacate Arbitration Award (“Fumerton Decl.”), Ex. A (“Arbitrator’s Award”).) The Emergency
Arbitrator issued the Award under the legal authority granted to him by the arbitration provision
of an agreement between Microsoft and Yahoo in 2009, the 2009 Search and Advertising
Services and Sales Agreement (the “Agreement”). (See Fumerton Decl., Ex. B §17.5.) In that
Award, the Arbitrator denied Microsoft’s request for specific performance, but granted its
request for injunctive relief. (See Arbitrator’s Award at 8.)
For the reasons discussed below, Yahoo’s motion to vacate the arbitration award is
DENIED. Further, given the interest in enforcement of the equitable award made by the
Arbitrator, and for the additional reasons discussed below, Microsoft’s cross-petition to confirm
the arbitration award is GRANTED.
I.

BACKGROUND
A. The Search Alliance and the Agreement to Transition
Microsoft runs the internet search engine Bing, where search ads are provided by

Microsoft’s Bing Ads system.1 (See Opp’n Mem. at 2.) Yahoo runs its own search engine and
system for providing search ads, called Panama. (See id.) In the 2009 Agreement, Microsoft
and Yahoo agreed to merge their search capabilities internationally to better compete with their
main market competitor, Google. (See Fumerton Decl., Ex. B.) The Agreement provides that
Yahoo would migrate its search and search ad services from Panama to Bing Ads. (See Pet’r

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Internet search engines provide results in response to queries entered by internet users. (See Decl. of Carolyn J.
Frantz in Supp. of Microsoft’s Opp’n to Yahoo’s Pet. To Vacate Arbitration Award (“Frantz Decl.”), Ex. 1, 25:1616:3 (Test. of Robert Wyler, Microsoft’s Senior Director of Strategic Alliances).) Search ads are advertisements
that appear on the results page along with unpaid algorithmic search results taken from a broad index of information
available on the internet in response to a search request entered by the user. (See id. at 26:4-27:1 (Test. of Robert
Wyler).)

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Mem. at 4.) To begin this transition, the global market was divided into sixteen individual
geographic markets.
The process of transitioning from Panama to Bing Ads in a given geographic market is
broken down into phases, the most important of which are the “Demand” phase and the “Ramp”
phase. During the first phase of transition, the Demand phase, the orders of all current Yahoo
advertisers are set up in the Bing Ads system, by copying information from Yahoo’s Panama
system. During this phase, advertisers’ orders are generally duplicated and present in both
systems. (See Opp’n Mem. at 4.) The Ramp phase follows the Demand phase. During the
Ramp phase, search traffic is shifted from Yahoo’s system to the Bing Ads system. The shift of
search traffic to Bing Ads “ramps up” over time. Thus, at “10% Ramp,” 10% of users’ searches
are answered by the Bing Ads system; at “100% Ramp,” the search traffic has been entirely
moved over to Bing Ads. (See Frantz Decl., Ex. 3 ¶ 19 (Aff. of Robert Wyler).) In fourteen out
of the sixteen of its geographic markets, Yahoo has completed the transition of its advertising
business to Bing Ads. (See Arbitrator’s Award at 3.) The remaining two markets, Taiwan and
Hong Kong, are the subject of the instant dispute.
B. Transitioning the Taiwan and Hong Kong Markets
Microsoft and Yahoo originally agreed for the migration of the Taiwan and Hong Kong
markets to be completed by 2011. (See Fumerton Decl., Ex. B § 8.1; Frantz Decl., Ex. 2 at
153:9-22 (Test. of Yahoo Senior Director for Search Alliance Ramesh Ramalingam).) However,
technical problems leading up to the transition led to several delays by mutual agreement. (See
Frantz Decl., Ex. 1 at 40:20-41:10 (Test. of Robert Wyler).) In February 2013, Microsoft and
Yahoo agreed to a final plan to transition the Taiwan and Hong Kong markets by the end of
October 2013. (See Frantz Decl, Ex. 7.)

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By mid-September 2013, the Ramp phase of the transition was ready to begin. (See
Frantz Decl., Ex. 11.) Leaders of the transition efforts from both parties agreed that the quality
criteria had been met, indicating that the transition was ready to proceed. (See id.; see also
Frantz Decl., Ex. 2 at 179:25-180:2 (Test. of Ramalingam) (Ramesh Ramalingam, who was
leading the transition effort for Yahoo, wanted to move forward with the Ramp phase).)
However, on Friday, September 20, 2013, Yahoo informed Microsoft that it was not proceeding
with the transition at that time, and noted that it “hope[d] to proceed with the migration of
[Taiwan] and [Hong Kong] in early 2014.” (See Frantz Decl., Ex. 12.) Yahoo gave as its reason
“concerns about Microsoft’s level of commitment to the Bing Ads platform” in light of
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s announcement that he planned to step down sometime before
August 2014.2 (See Frantz Decl., Ex. 13 at 1.) That same day, Microsoft informed Yahoo that it
considered “Yahoo’s conduct concerning search migrations [] a breach of the parties’ Search and
Advertising Services and Sales Agreement.” (See Frantz Decl., Ex. 18 at 3.)
C. The Emergency Arbitration
On September 26, 2013, Microsoft initiated “an emergency arbitration.” (See Opp’n
Mem. at 11.) It did so pursuant to § 17.4.2 and § 17.5 of the Agreement,3 which collectively
2

Yahoo later made clear that it intended to “pause” migration efforts in Taiwan and Hong Kong until after Yahoo
CEO Marissa Mayer was “able to discuss the partnership with Mr. Ballmer’s successor.” (Frantz Decl., Ex. 13 at 13;
see also id., Ex. 2 at 283:20-284:5 (Test. of Laurie Mann, Yahoo Senior Vice President of Search Products) (“If we
decide a new CEO has the same commitment that Steve Ballmer had, then we will go forward with the transition.”);
id., Ex. 2 at 97:24-98:25 (Test. of Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo) (“This is about [the new Microsoft CEO]’s
strategy and commitment to moving forward.”).) According to Microsoft, “it is unknown when [the new] CEO will
be named, but it may be as late as August 2014, the date by which Mr. Ballmer has announced he will retire.”
(Opp’n Mem. at 23.)
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In relevant part, § 17.5 provides specifically:
Except with respect to claims for interim, injunctive or emergency relief, where an Emergency
Arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to Rule O-1 of the AAA Emergency Measures of Protection,
the arbitration will be heard and determined before arbitrators selected in accordance with the
remainder of this Section 17.5. The parties agree that the arbitrator is authorized to compel and

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provide for emergency arbitration in some circumstances. (See id.) The AAA-appointed
Emergency Arbitrator directed the proceeding, which involved extensive briefing and testimony.
Both Microsoft and Yahoo filed lengthy briefs, and each submitted affidavits from witnesses.
(See Arbitrator’s Award at 8-14.) Two days of hearings, on October 7-8, 2013, included the
presentation and cross-examination of ten witnesses, including the CEOs of both Microsoft and
Yahoo. (See Frantz Decl., Exs. 1-2.) At the close of the proceedings, both parties submitted
proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. (See Opp’n Mem. at 11.)
On October 14, 2013, the Arbitrator issued a decision finding “that by imposing its pause
and refusing to proceed with the scheduled Taiwan and Hong Kong migrations, Yahoo is in
breach of the Agreement.”4 (See Arbitrator’s Award at 7.) The Arbitrator also concluded, inter
alia, that “based on [his] evaluation of the testimony and affidavits submitted,” it is “critical that
the Ramp phase follow the Demand phase that has been successfully completed because
advertiser orders and preferences change over time.” (Id. at 8.) Therefore, he found that the
“urgency of the transition establishes the emergency required by the Emergency Rules.” (Id. at

award interim injunctive or emergency relief. The parties further agree that they may seek and the
arbitrator(s) may compel and award specific performance (in addition to any other remedies and
including in connection with claims for interim, injunctive or emergency relief), even if such relief
could not be awarded or would otherwise not be available if the claim were to be adjudicated in a
judicial proceeding. Accordingly, in any action for specific performance, the parties waive the
defense of adequacy of a remedy at law. Any non-monetary relief will be tailored to preserve, to
the greatest extent possible, the scope of the Services provided under this Agreement and the
parties’ intent with respect to such Services.
Fumerton Decl., Ex. B § 17.5.
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The Emergency Arbitrator adopted Yahoo’s terminology for its decision not to proceed with the Hong Kong and
Taiwan transition plan, calling it a “pause,” although he noted that “Ms. Mayer [] admitted that the pause was not of
brief duration…[and] there is no assurance that Ms. Mayer will be satisfied with what the successor CEO will say, in
which case it appears that the Yahoo pause could be of indefinite and possibly permanent duration.” (Arbitrator’s
Award at 5.)

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14.) He further concluded that the testimony and affidavits demonstrated that the Yahoo’s
breach of the Agreement “establishe[d] irreparable harm to Microsoft.” (Id.)
The Arbitrator rejected Microsoft’s request for specific performance and issued an
injunction that “restores the parties to the activities they were ready to proceed with before the
pause.” (Id. at 15.) The Arbitrator ordered that Yahoo is “restrained and enjoined from
continuing any pause in transitioning” and is “commanded to use all efforts” to complete the
Taiwan transition by October 28, 2013 and the Hong Kong transition by November 11, 2013.
(Id. at 15-16.) Finally, although the Arbitrator awarded an injunction rather than specific
performance, he noted that “[a]n injunction can achieve the same goal as specific performance,
namely to get the Taiwan and Hong Kong migrations completed.” (Id. at 14.)
II.

VACATUR OF THE ARBITRATION AWARD
A. Legal Standard
The Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C § 1 et seq. (“FAA”) established a strong federal

policy in favor of arbitration, requiring courts to “rigorously enforce agreements to arbitrate.”
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. v. Soler Chrysler-Plymouth, Inc., 473 U.S. 614, 626 (1985). However,
the FAA does provide for instances when an arbitration award may be vacated by the district
court. Section 10(a)(4) of the Federal Arbitration Act authorizes a district court to vacate an
arbitral award “where the arbitrators exceeded their powers.” 9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(4). If an
arbitrator “goes beyond that self-limiting agreement between consenting parties, [he] acts
inherently without power, and an award ordered under such circumstances must be vacated.”
Porzig v. Dresdner, Kleinwort, Benson, N.A., 497 F.3d 133, 140 (2d Cir. 2007).
However, in order to vacate an award on this ground, “it is not enough for petitioners to
show that the panel committed an error—or even a serious error.” Stolt-Nielsen S.S. v.

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AnimalFeeds Int’l Corp., 559 U.S. 662, 671 (2010) (internal citations omitted). Rather, it is only
when an arbitrator “strays from interpretation and application of the agreement and effectively
dispenses his own brand of industrial justice that his decision may be unenforceable.” Id.
(internal citations omitted). If the parties agreed to submit their dispute to arbitration, as the
parties did here, a court will “uphold a challenged award as long as the arbitrator offers a barely
colorable justification for the outcome reached.” ReliaStar Life Ins. Co. v. EMC Nat. Life Co.,
564 F.3d 81, 86 (2d Cir. 2009). Finally, “an arbitration award may not be vacated because of
disagreement with the arbitrator’s evaluation of the evidence.” Data & Development, Inc. v.
Infokall, Inc., 513 F. App’x 117, 118 (2d Cir. 2013).
Courts in the Second Circuit have also vacated arbitration awards that are in “manifest
disregard of the law.” See Halligan v. Piper Jaffray, Inc., 148 F.3d 197, 202 (2d Cir. 1998).
Awards are vacated on these grounds “only in those exceedingly rare instances where some
egregious impropriety on the part of the arbitrator is apparent.” T.Co Metals, L.L.C. v. Dempsey
Pipe & Supply, Inc., 592 F.3d 329, 340 (2d Cir. 2010). Proving that an arbitrator acted in
manifest disregard of the law requires a two-part showing. First, the court must consider
“whether the governing law alleged to have been ignored by the arbitrator was well defined,
explicit, and clearly applicable.” Westerbeke Corp. v. Daihatsu Motor Co., 304 F.3d 200, 209
(2d Cir. 2002). Second, the court must consider whether the arbitrator “appreciate[d] the
existence of a clearly governing legal principle but decide[d] to ignore or pay no attention to it.”
Id. (internal citations omitted).
B. Discussion
Yahoo argues that the Arbitrator exceeded his authority and manifestly disregarded the
law, and therefore this Court should vacate the award under 9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(4). The Second

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Circuit has “consistently accorded the narrowest of readings to [§ 10(a)(4)] in order to facilitate
the purpose underlying arbitration: to provide parties with efficient dispute resolution, thereby
obviating the need for protracted litigation.” ReliaStar, 564 F.3d at 85. Given the narrow
interpretation of § 10(a)(4) by the Second Circuit and for the reasons discussed below, Yahoo’s
petition to vacate is denied.
1. The Arbitrator Did Not Exceed his Authority by Issuing a Final Award
Yahoo first alleges that the Award must be vacated because the Emergency Arbitrator
awarded Microsoft “final permanent relief” even though the parties’ Agreement—and the AAA
Optional Rules for Emergency Measures of Protection (the “Emergency Measures”) expressly
incorporated therein—only permit an Emergency Arbitrator to award “interim relief.” (Pet’r’s
Mem. at 2.) Yahoo characterizes “interim relief” as “relief necessary to preserve the status quo
until the matter can be fully and fairly decided by a three-Arbitrator panel of industry experts
following discovery.” (Id.) Yahoo alleges that the Emergency Arbitrator’s award was final
because migration in the Taiwan and Hong Kong markets, which is required by the injunction, is
irreversible. (See Fumerton Decl., Ex. C at 84:18-24 (Test. of Yahoo CEO, Marissa Mayer); see
also id., Ex. F at 144:16-18 (Test. of Microsoft Witness, Dr. Qu Lu) (“[O]nce we transitioned,
there’s no going back . . . It’s a permanent situation.”).)
Yahoo’s argument fails, however, because there is a more than colorable basis for finding
that the Arbitrator was authorized to grant the relief that was awarded. The 2009 Agreement
between Yahoo and Microsoft adopts the Emergency Measures “with respect to any claim for
interim, injunctive, or other emergency relief.”5 (See Fumerton Decl., Ex. B § 17.5 (emphasis
5

Section 17.5 of the 2009 Agreement refers to “interim, injunctive or other emergency relief” in Lines 6-7 and again
refers to “interim, injunctive or emergency relief” in Lines 9-10 and in Line 15—the comma that follows “interim”
in these clauses indicate that an Arbitrator is authorized to award not only interim relief, but also injunctive relief or
emergency relief. (See Fumerton Decl., Ex. B § 17.5.) However, in Line 13, the same phrase appears without the

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added).) Yahoo argues that this section indicates that an Emergency Arbitrator may only enter
“an interim award” for emergency relief “prior to the constitution of a panel.” (See Fumerton
Decl., Ex. K, Emergency Measures Rules O-1, O-4.) But the Agreement itself, in the same
provision that adopts the Emergency Measures, states that “[t]he parties agree that the arbitrator
is authorized to compel and award interim injunctive or emergency relief . . . and the arbitrator[s]
may compel and award specific performance (in addition to any other remedies and including in
connection with claims for interim, injunctive or emergency relief)”. (Id., Ex. B § 17.5.) The
Agreement further states, in the same provision providing for emergency arbitration, that “[a]ny
non-monetary relief will be tailored to preserve, to the greatest extent possible, the scope of
Services provided under this Agreement and the parties’ intent with respect to such Services.”
(Id.)
The language in the Agreement suggests that Yahoo and Microsoft empowered an
Emergency Arbitrator to grant non-monetary relief necessary to restore the status quo. (See
Opp’n Mem. at 17.) During arbitration, the Emergency Arbitrator addressed Yahoo’s argument
that the preliminary injunction Microsoft was seeking was inappropriate because of its finality,
but nevertheless found that injunctive relief was needed to restore the status quo, stating that “the
injunction imposed hereby merely restores the parties to the activities they were ready to proceed
with before [Yahoo’s unilateral pause].” (Arbitrator’s Award at 15.) Because restoration of the
status quo may appropriately require one party to perform contractual obligations, the Arbitrator
had a colorable basis for concluding that an injunction requiring Yahoo to continue to perform

comma following “interim relief,” where the agreement reads: “[t]he parties agree that the arbitrator is authorized to
compel and award interim injunctive or emergency relief . . .” (Id.) Even though the clause in Line 13 plausibly
indicates that all injunctive relief must be interim, a more convincing interpretation of this clause, when read in
conjunction with other clauses in Section 17.5, is that it authorizes the Emergency Arbitrator to grant injunctive or
emergency relief, in addition to interim relief.

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was necessary. See Tom Doherty Assocs., v. Saban Entm’t, Inc., 60 F.3d 27, 34 (2d Cir. 1995)
(“Confusion in breach of contract cases as to whether an injunction is mandatory or prohibitory
may stem from the meaning of ‘status quo.’ A plaintiff’s view of the status quo is the situation
that would prevail if its version of the contract were performed.”).
The Second Circuit has held that “[a]s long as the Arbitrator is even arguably construing
or applying the contract and acting within the scope of this authority,” the district court must
uphold the Arbitrator’s award. ReliaStar, 564 F.3d at 86 (internal quotation and citation
omitted.) Here, the record makes clear that the Emergency Arbitrator reached his decision out of
effort to construe and apply the 2009 Agreement. Accordingly, the Arbitrator acted within his
authority in granting an injunction as to the migration to Bing, even though the equitable relief
that was granted is, in essence, final.
2. The Arbitrator Did Not Exceed his Authority by Finding an Emergency and
Irreparable Harm.
Yahoo also argues that there were no facts on the record demonstrating an emergency,
and therefore the Emergency Arbitrator did not have jurisdiction to award any relief. (See
Fumerton Decl., Ex. K, Emergency Measures Rule O-1.) Yahoo argues that the parties’ regular
course of conduct—which Yahoo alleges has included numerous delays as operational or
business issues arose—makes clear that the latest delay was no emergency. (See Pet’r’s Mem. at
17.) Further, under the Emergency Measures, the Emergency Arbitrator is required to find “that
the party seeking the emergency relief has shown that immediate and irreparable loss or damage
will result in the absence of emergency relief” before granting relief. (Fumerton Decl., Ex. K,
Emergency Measures Rule O-4.) Yahoo argues that this standard was not met because mere fear
or speculation cannot constitute irreparable harm, see JSG Trading Corp. V. Tray-Wrap, Inc.,

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917 F.2d 75, 80 (2d Cir. 1990), and Yahoo alleges that during the hearing, Microsoft did not
offer any non-speculative evidence. (Pet’r’s Mem. at 17, 20.)
These arguments lack merit, however, because the Arbitrator made factual findings of
both emergency (see Arbitrator’s Award at 8-14) and immediate irreparable harm (id. at 2) based
on the evidence that had been presented in arbitration. (Id. at 8-14.) “[A]n arbitration award
may not be vacated because of disagreement with the Arbitrator’s evaluation of the evidence.”
Data & Development, 513 F. App’x at 118. Moreover, the record shows that the Arbitrator
reached his factual determinations based on significant evidence showing that it was critical that
the Ramp phase immediately follow the Demand phase, including affidavits, dozens of exhibits,
and the testimony of ten witnesses. (See Arbitrator’s Award at 8-14.) Accordingly, deference to
the Arbitrator’s determinations is appropriate.
3. The Arbitrator Did Not Manifestly Disregard the Law
Yahoo finally alleges that the Emergency Arbitrator disregarded well-settled law when he
ordered an injunction without having made an appropriate finding that Microsoft is entitled to
injunctive relief. In the Second Circuit, a party seeking a preliminary injunction “ordinarily must
show: (1) a likelihood of irreparable harm in the absence of the injunction; and (2) either a
likelihood of success on the merits or sufficiently serious questions going to the merits to make
them a fair ground for litigation, with a balance of hardships tipping decidedly in the movant’s
favor.” Doninger v. Niehoff, 527 F.3d 41, 47 (2d Cir. 2008). Yahoo argues that the Arbitrator’s
failure to make these findings constitutes a manifest disregard of the law, and the Award should
be vacated on these grounds. See Hardy v. Walsh Manning Secs., L.L.C., 341 F.3d 126, 131 (2d
Cir. 2003).

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However, this argument also fails because Yahoo cannot point to a clear rule of law that
the Emergency Arbitrator ignored or refused to apply. See Duferco Int’l Steel Trading v. T.
Klaveness Shipping A/S, 333 F.3d 383, 389 (2d Cir. 2003) (party seeking vacatur based on an
arbitrator’s manifest disregard of the law “bears the burden of proving that the arbitrators were
fully aware of the existence of a clearly defined governing legal principle, but refused to apply it,
in effect, ignoring it.”). Here, the record shows that the Arbitrator considered and applied
applicable law in granting the injunction: that is, the Arbitrator (1) found that there was a
likelihood of irreparable harm, as to Microsoft (see Arbitrator’s Award at 9-15); (2) found the
balance of hardships was in favor of Microsoft (see id.); and (3) considered the likelihood of
Microsoft’s success on the merits (id. at 6-7 (finding Yahoo’s pause is a breach of the
Agreement)). Because Yahoo has not established a clear rule of law that the Arbitrator was
aware of and refused to apply, there is no showing that the Arbitrator manifestly disregarded the
law. The evidentiary dispute that Yahoo describes cannot be the basis for vacating an arbitration
award. See Data & Development, 513 F. App’x at 118.
III.

CONFIRMATION OF THE ARBITRATION AWARD
Microsoft cross-petitions this Court to confirm the arbitration award. The FAA, in 9

U.S.C. § 9, provides that a court “must grant such an order [confirming an arbitration award]
unless the award is vacated, modified, or corrected as prescribed in sections 10 and 11 of this
title.” 9 U.S.C. § 9. “The confirmation of an arbitration award is a summary proceeding that
merely makes what is already a final arbitration award a judgment of the court.” Florasynth, Inc.
v. Pickholz, 750 F.2d 171, 171 (2d Cir. 1984). The Court finds here that there is no basis to
vacate the award, and the parties have not moved the Court to modify or correct it. Therefore, a
plain reading of the FAA suggests that the Court should confirm the award.

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Nevertheless, Yahoo objects that confirmation of the Award is inappropriate here because
“[w]here…arbitrators make an interim ruling that does not purport to resolve finally the issues
submitted to them, judicial review is unavailable.” (Pet’r’s Letter at 2 (citing Michaels v.
Mariforum Shipping, S.A., 624 F.2d 411, 414 (2d Cir. 1980)).) Because this Court finds, as
discussed at length above, that the equitable relief awarded is final, and that the Emergency
Arbitrator neither exceeded his authority nor manifestly disregarded the law in awarding such
relief, Yahoo’s argument is inapposite.
Further, if “an arbitral award of equitable relief based upon a finding of irreparable harm
is to have any meaning at all, the parties must be capable of enforcing or vacating it at the time it
is made.” Southern Seas Nav. Ltd. v. Petroleos Mexicanos, 606 F. Supp. 692, 694 (S.D.N.Y.
1985) (Weinfeld, J.); see also Sperry Int’l Trade v. Gov’t of Israel, 532 F. Supp. 901, 909
(S.D.N.Y. 1982) aff’d 689 F.2d 301 (2d Cir. 1982) (confirming an arbitrator’s order to place a
disputed $15 million letter of credit in escrow pending a decision on the merits, finding that the
award would be rendered a meaningless exercise of the arbitrator’s power if unenforced). Here,
given the time-sensitive nature of the Hong Kong and Taiwan transition, the parties have a clear
interest in enforcing the equitable award made by the Arbitrator as soon as possible. At oral
argument, Microsoft additionally voiced concerns that Yahoo would not comply with the
arbitration award without confirmation by this Court. (Tr. of Hr’g at 46, Oct. 18, 2013 (“They
have told us they are not going to comply, and I can represent to your Honor, they are not
complying.”).) Because the Court finds no basis to vacate the Award and because the Court is
mindful of the time-sensitive nature of Yahoo’s compliance with the injunction, Microsoft’s
cross-petition to confirm the arbitration award is granted.

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IV.

CONCLUSION
Yahoo did not meet the heavy burden required to show that the Emergency Arbitrator

exceeded his authority under 10 U.S.C. § 10(a)(4). See ReliaStar, 564 F.3d at 86 (“If the parties
agreed to submit an issue for arbitration, we will uphold a challenged award as long as the
arbitrator offers a barely colorable justification for the outcome reached.”) Yahoo similarly did
not present sufficient evidence to show that that this Award was one of the “exceedingly rare
instances” where an arbitrator manifestly disregards the law. See T.Co Metals, 592 F.3d at 340.
Therefore, upon a review of the Award and upon due consideration of the arguments made by
both parties, Yahoo’s motion to vacate must be denied. Finally, given that the petition to vacate
the Award is without merit and given the interest in enforcement of the equitable award made by
the Arbitrator, the arbitration award should be confirmed. See 9 U.S.C. § 9 (a court “must grant
such an order [confirming an arbitration award] unless the award is vacated, modified, or
corrected”).
Therefore, Yahoo’s motion to vacate the arbitration award is DENIED. Microsoft’s
cross-petition to confirm the arbitration award is GRANTED.
SO ORDERED.
Dated: New York, New York
October 21, 2013

____________/s/______________________
Robert P. Patterson, Jr.
United States District Judge, Part I

Counsel for Petitioner and Cross-Respondent, Yahoo! Inc.:
Alexander C Drylewski
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (NYC)
14

Four Times Square
42nd floor
New York, NY 10036
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Patrick George Rideout
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (NYC)
Four Times Square
42nd floor
New York, NY 10036
(212)-735-2702
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Robert Alexander Fumerton
Skadden, Arps, Slate,Meagher & Flom LLP(IIA)
Four Times Sq.,
New York, NY 10036
(212)-735-3902
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Counsel for Respondent and Cross-Petitioner, Microsoft Corp.:
Richard Scott Goldstein
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (NYC)
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
212-506-5000
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

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