Google v Microsoft : Fight! Fight! Fight!

Greetings and Salutations,

So, the ever increasing press release battle between Microsoft and Google is taking on the appearance of an intense personal schoolyard recess-break fight.

Firing off the first round, Dr Lee says that he approached Google regarding possible employment in May of 2005 which led to an offer of employment and that at no time did Google actively poach him nor encouraged him to violate any agreements with Microsoft.

A declaration made by Lee was among the court papers filed by Google this week, in which Dr Lee states that Bill Gates, told him they were "definitely going to sue you and Google over this" and that "We need to do this to stop Google."

Meanwhile, a Superior Court Judge granted Microsoft's request for a temporary restraining order to prevent Dr Kai-Fu Lee from violating his non-compete agreement on Thursday. Specifically, Dr Lee is prohibited from working on any search technologies, business strategies, research and development or planning related to the search market in China. Finally, Dr Lee is prohibited from encouraging any other Microsoft employees to join Google.

However, the Judge also barred Microsoft from destroying any relevant documents or data that relate to Dr Lee's employment and ordered that they post $1 million security to be used to pay for costs and damages if it is determined the restraining order was wrongfully granted.

Google immediately fired back claiming that the lawsuit is a charade, with it's real intent to scare other Microsoft employees from defecting.

This really is a typical schoolyard fight.

Microsoft is ever ready with heavy handed techniques that typically show off more brawn than brains, and Google is utilising that by taunting them with vilification jibes and jeers of they be evil.

I'm surprised that no-one has yet mentioned the hypocrisy of Microsoft's lawsuit in light of their own rampant poaching activities.

If memory serves, this case is similar to an incident in 1997. Only, back then Microsoft poached Borland's top 40 engineers, offering them up to twice their salaries to go work for Microsoft. I think it would be fair to say that they all were apparently in possession of what might be considered Borland's IP and trade secrets? Didn't they also use the same technique to poach some Oracle staff at one point? How about when they poached Cambridge University's Head of Computing Dr Needham?

It's just not old cases, over the last year, Microsoft have poached staff for every department, including their legal department!

Oh, well, the bell rings and we'll just have to wait till lunchtime bell for the next round.

Latest Courtroom News:

• news.com Articles
• Microsoft sues over Google hire
• Lee looked up Google, wasn't poached
• Judge grants Microsoft request in Google case
• Google: Microsoft suit a 'charade'
• internetnews.com article - Google Strikes Back in Executive Tug-of-War

Microsoft's Recent Poaching Activities:

• The tiscali.games article - Microsoft poaches Final Fantasy maestro
• The Register Article - MS poaches Symbian exec for wireless ops
• AccountancyAge Article - Microsoft poaches EU antitrust case official
• Win Insider Entry - Microsoft poaches IBM legal eagle

See my previous posts on this topic:

• Google on Microsoft's Hit-list
• Gates v Google

TTFN!