Mali's private media went on strike for four days following Mr Daou's arrest.

BBC: Mali court drops case against editor Boukary Daou

In the days following the Dec. 3 meeting, Daou, Boyce, Huffington and Lerer fleshed out the idea in in-person meetings and email conversations.

FORBES: Inside the Legal Battle Over the Huffington Post's Origins

Daou and Boyce say they had business relationships that prevented them from going public with their beef when they would have liked to.

FORBES: Inside the Legal Battle Over the Huffington Post's Origins

Peter Daou, Hillary Clinton's internet director, says that YouTube, even more than Facebook or MySpace, has had a huge impact on the campaign.

ECONOMIST: The battle to master new media becomes ever more intense

Mr Daou, who was also charged with publishing false information, said he was "deeply moved" by the court's decision, according to the AFP news agency.

BBC: Mali court drops case against editor Boukary Daou

In other words, Huffington and Lerer, at a minimum, seriously considered working with Daou and Boyce on something that, in rough outline, resembles the Huffington Post.

FORBES: Inside the Legal Battle Over the Huffington Post's Origins

Global media watchdog the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Mr Daou's arrest was "another example of Malian security agents acting outside the law in trying to harass journalists".

BBC: Mali media strike over editor Boukary Daou's arrest