Mark Cuban wants to buy the Dodgers! Mark Cuban says buying the Dodgers from the “McCourt(s)” is of interest to him even though the team is not for sale.

Of course, who exactly owns the Dodgers now, and will own the Dodgers, is the subject of the Frank and Jamie McCourt divorce. She claims the family’s handlers including even their estate attorney knew she was co-owner; Frank says only he is the sole owner.

Cuban says in an email today, “If a unique situation came up where I could contribute capital to buy out a majority shareholder and gain control with existing shareholders or note holders staying in place, I would consider it.”

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Mark Cuban used “Blog Maverick” to respond to his Insider Trading Charges. Mark Cuban on Blog Maverick writes of the SEC Insider Trading Charges announced today by the SEC.

He blogs the following moments ago:

I wish I could say more, but I will have to leave it to this, and let the judicial process do its job.
November 17, 2008
RE: SEC Civil Action in the United States District

for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division

Mark Cuban today responded to a civil complaint filed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States District for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. In its complaint, the Commission charges that Mr. Cuban engaged in violations of the federal securities laws in connection with transactions in the securities of Mamma.com Inc.

This matter, which has been pending before the Commission for nearly two years, has no merit and is a product of gross abuse of prosecutorial discretion. Mr. Cuban intends to contest the allegations and to demonstrate that the Commission’s claims are infected by the misconduct of the staff of its Enforcement Division.

Mr. Cuban stated, “I am disappointed that the Commission chose to bring this case based upon its Enforcement staff’s win-at-any-cost ambitions. The staff’s process was result-oriented, facts be damned. The government’s claims are false and they will be proven to be so.”

For recap of the Mark Cuban developments today, click here: http://news.lalate.com/category/mark-cuban.

On the web: http://blogmaverick.com/2008/11/17/the-sec/

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What are Copernic and Mamma.com, and what was Mark Cuban’s involvement? Copernic and Mamma.com were described in a 2005 press release as the following:

“Mamma.Com Inc. Acquires Copernic for $15.9 Million & 2.38 Million Common Shares

Montreal, Canada
December 22, 2005

“Mamma.com Inc., (the “Company”), (NASDAQ: MAMA) announces that the Company’s board of directors and the board and shareholders of Copernic Technologies Inc. (“Copernic”) have approved definitive purchase agreements to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding securities of Copernic (the “Transaction”). Unless otherwise stated, all figures in this release are in US dollars.

“The Company has agreed to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding securities of Copernic, including an amount to cover Copernic’s outstanding stock appreciation rights obligations, for $15,900,000 and the issuance of 2,380,000 common shares of the Company. Copernic had approximately $5.9 million of revenue and EBITDA of approximately $1.8 million in their fiscal year ended June 30, 2005. The Transaction closed today, December 22, 2005. Merriman Curhan Ford & Co, an investment bank headquartered in San Francisco, is acting as M&A advisor to Mamma.com in this acquisition.”

The press release includes the following description of the two entities as of 2005.

“About Mamma.com Inc.
Mamma Media Solutions™ is focused on providing first-rate quality information retrieval on the Internet through its metasearch engine and is a leading provider of integrated marketing solutions to online advertisers. Mamma.com The Mother of All Search Engines® (www.mamma.com) is one of the most popular metasearch engines on the Internet, as it makes it easier and faster for people to find information by gathering the most relevant results from the best search engines on the Internet. Mamma Media Solutions™ is equally focused on being one of the leading providers of online marketing solutions to advertisers as its integrated offer includes keyword search listings and numerous sizes of graphic ad units. Mamma Media Solutions™ maintains a large publisher network on which it distributes search and graphic ad units for its advertisers. The Company also holds minority interests in analog integrated circuit products, and in the new media and telecommunications sectors. For more information, visit www.mammamediasolutions.com.

“About Copernic Technologies Inc.
“Copernic (www.copernic.com) develops cutting-edge search and information management solutions that enable home and business PC users to maximize their information assets and become more efficient and proactive in their daily lives. The company is dedicated to providing its customers with cost-effective Web and desktop search technology that enables better decision-making and increased productivity. All Copernic products feature simple fast downloading, automatic installation, and the most ease-of-use in the industry. With unique and powerful product features, Copernic is the name that consumers and professionals trust to deliver the highest quality search products. For more information, visit www.copernic.com.”

That Copernic Mamma.com press release was dated December 22, 2005.

Today’s SEC press release alleges the following about Mark Cuban the year before, in June 2004.

“Washington, D.C., Nov. 17, 2008 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Dallas entrepreneur Mark Cuban with insider trading for selling 600,000 shares of the stock of an Internet search engine company on the basis of material, non-public information concerning an impending stock offering.

“The Commission’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, alleges that in June 2004, Mamma.com Inc. invited Cuban to participate in the stock offering after he agreed to keep the information confidential. The complaint further alleges that Cuban knew that the offering would be conducted at a discount to the prevailing market price and that it would be dilutive to existing shareholders.”

Still no comment by Cuban today.

For continuing coverage of the Cuban breaking story:
click here: http://news.lalate.com/category/mark-cuban.

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The SEC has charged Mark Cuban with Insider Trading over Mamma.com. Mark Cuban has been charged by the SEC with alleged Insider Trading in a new press release.

Cuban is of course the Mavericks owner.

The SEC’s press release moments ago about Mark Cuban says the following:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2008-273

Washington, D.C., Nov. 17, 2008 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Dallas entrepreneur Mark Cuban with insider trading for selling 600,000 shares of the stock of an Internet search engine company on the basis of material, non-public information concerning an impending stock offering.

The Commission’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, alleges that in June 2004, Mamma.com Inc. invited Cuban to participate in the stock offering after he agreed to keep the information confidential. The complaint further alleges that Cuban knew that the offering would be conducted at a discount to the prevailing market price and that it would be dilutive to existing shareholders.

Within hours of receiving this information, according to the complaint, Cuban called his broker and instructed him to sell Cuban’s entire position in the company. When the offering was publicly announced, Mamma.com’s stock price opened at $11.89, down $1.215 or 9.3 percent from the prior day’s closing price of $13.105. According to the complaint, Cuban avoided losses in excess of $750,000 by selling his stock prior to the public announcement of the offering.

“Insider trading cases are a high priority for the Commission. This case demonstrates yet again that the Commission will aggressively pursue illegal insider trading whenever it occurs,” said Linda Chatman Thomsen, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.

Scott W. Friestad, Deputy Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, said, “As we allege in the complaint, Mamma.com entrusted Mr. Cuban with nonpublic information after he promised to keep the information confidential. Less than four hours later, Mr. Cuban betrayed that trust by placing an order to sell all of his shares. It is fundamentally unfair for someone to use access to nonpublic information to improperly gain an edge on the market.”

The complaint alleges that Cuban violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The Commission’s complaint seeks to permanently enjoin Cuban from future violations of the federal securities laws, disgorgement (with prejudgment interest), and a financial penalty.

No comment yet by Cuban.

For continuing coverage of the Cuban breaking story:
click here: http://news.lalate.com/category/mark-cuban

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Mark Cuban’s blog below today responded to email comments about Josh Howard. Mark Cuban’s blog reportedly responded to emails received discussing the Josh Howard video, first broke here on LALATE2.

Reports described what Cuban had posted about the matter today. Says the Orlando Sentinel: “I can’t say I always agree with with Cuban, but I have to applaud him for posting on his blog some of the outright disrespectful … filth that hit his inbox as a result of Howard’s latest flap.”

However, by late afternoon the post was gone. The post was originally located here is now deleted.

Why?

If you missed it, to watch the video, head over to LALATE 2 under Sports.

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