Looking to get a first-mover advantage in the online video-editing sector - potentially a lucrative realm if the user-generated content trend sustains itself - Yahoo purchased startup Jumpcut.

Yahoo plans to integrate Jumpcut's editing tools into Yahoo video, and use the service in conjunction with existing Yahoo properties such as Flickr and del.icio.us, Red Herring reports. Jumpcut will retain its brand name, and gain access to Yahoo's 500 million monthly visitors.

The acquisition moves Yahoo ahead of competitors in the video-editing space, offering an opportunity to now provide a suite of services in one package. "Wouldn't it be cool for users to use Jumpcut on pictures they find in Flickr, or on music from Yahoo Music?" mused Gartner analyst Allen Weiner to Red Herring, noting that to achieve its potential, Jumpcut needed access to the users and applications that Yahoo has now provided.

"We have worked hard to pioneer great online video editing technology that can truly enhance the online video world by enabling anyone to become a creator…. As part of Yahoo! we'll be working on bringing video editing and remixing to everyone with an Internet connection," a post on Jumpcut's blog effused.