Google calls MS' Yahoo! bid 'Troubling'

Robert Hallock 3 Feb, 2008 at 3:59pm ET Article published in Tech

As we very recently reported, Microsft plunked down a $44bn USD bid to acquire Yahoo!. With Microsoft’s R&D budget and reach combined with Yahoo!’s superior web presence, Microsoft figures they could make a fine pair.

But what’s a proposed merger without a little bit of drama?

Google’s Chief Legal Officer had this to say in his blog:

Could Microsoft now attempt to exert the same sort of inappropriate and illegal influence over the Internet that it did with the PC? While the Internet rewards competitive innovation, Microsoft has frequently sought to establish proprietary monopolies–and then leverage its dominance into new, adjacent markets,

The fear is that combining two of the most popular IM protocols and two of the most popular web portals could give Microsoft leverage to control the flow of the Internet.

Shouldn’t they be hounding the RIAA and DARPA about that?

Comments

4 Feb 2008 ~ 10:00am Linc Followup:

Google calls Microsoft's bid for Yahoo 'hostile'

Yahoo may join Google instead of Microsoft

"The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google's chief executive Eric Schmidt called Yahoo's chief executive Jerry Yang to offer his company's help in any effort to thwart Microsoft's bid."
4 Feb 2008 ~ 3:39pm Leonardo

Google calls MS' Yahoo! bid 'Troubling'

Not exactly the surprise of the century. How dare anyone challenge our dominance! (It certainly would have been a surprise if Google had announced, "We welcome the serious bid by Microsoft to become a major competitor.")

I would welcome a major challenger to Google. Google has done wonderful things and has changed the way the developed world conducts business - figuratively and literally. But with that said, Google has the potential to be far worse of an overbearing monolith than all the negative characteristics ascribed to Microsoft.
4 Feb 2008 ~ 8:07pm Linc The last time Google called something "troubling", the FCC made rules over it
5 Feb 2008 ~ 4:22am chiaz

A source familiar with Yahoo Incorporated's strategy suggested that the company may consider a business alliance with Google Incorporated, as an alternative to Microsoft’s $44.6 billion takeover proposal. Yahoo management is considering revisiting talks it held with Google several months ago on an alliance as an alternative to Microsoft's bid, that source said.

If Google does take over Yahoo, then isn't it contradicting itself? Google has a much larger share of the search and advertising industry...
5 Feb 2008 ~ 9:41am MiracleManS I think the fact that it will be an "alliance" and not a complete buyout is whats more reassuring. With a buyout MS will hold all sway over what is and isn't done with Yahoo. Whereas Google + Yahoo = just that...an addition as opposed to a "WTF I PWN YOU" sort of approach.

Sorry, I was playing WoW this morning.
5 Feb 2008 ~ 9:50am Linc Microsoft = closed source, proprietary, Windows

Google = open source, free, Internet

Yahoo has gotten itself caught in the middle. Which way it goes may well impact the future of the Internet and tip the scales.
5 Feb 2008 ~ 11:52am mas0n I say let Microsoft buy Yahoo and lets get this battle started already! I want my Google OS!
5 Feb 2008 ~ 1:46pm Linc

mas0n wrote:

I want my Google OS!

Isn't that Linux?