Vidoop Goes Ten Rounds With Grim Reaper

Word on the street is that Portland-based OpenID and identity management company Vidoop is on its last legs and death is imminent. While the company's total demise is somewhat in question, there's no doubt that something is going on, and Vidoop isn't likely to emerge unscathed on the other side of its troubles.

TechCrunch's Michael Arrington reported Saturday that Vidoop is "dead" and that  employees won't receive their final wages. He posted what he claims is an internal e-mail from company CEO Joel Norvell stating "Vidoop LLC is officially out of business."

Chris Messina, the company's open source advocate, appeared to be a bit caught off guard and told followers on Twitter he has "no idea" who tipped off Arrington but that there are indeed "no more Vidoop employees." There's no mention of the situation on the Vidoop's blog, but the company's Twitter feed simply says, "dead, no. bloody, yes. still got fight left. details soon..."

Where Vidoop will eventually end up is anybody's guess, but The Oregonian's Mike Rogoway seems to have the latest skinny. "Corresponded over the weekend with Joel, who said he couldn't elaborate yet, but there would be more from the company this week: 'There is something going on in the background that should come together in the next few days,' he wrote."

 Vidoop employs -- or employed -- some of the brightest minds and most vocal advocates in open source today, including Messina, Scott Kveton, and Will Norris. Here's hoping the company can pull something from its sleeve and live to see another day.