While I was flying halfway across the world, a huge story developed that I am just now catching up on: Microsoft launched a takeover bid for Yahoo valued at $44.6 Billion. In a frankly stunning move today, the Official Google Blog has published a post raising questions about “Microsoft’s hostile bid for Yahoo!.” David Drummond, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer for Google, wonders whether Microsoft could “now attempt to exert the same sort of inappropriate and illegal influence over the Internet that it did with the PC?”
Further, Drummond queries whether Microsoft-Yahoo could “extend unfair practices from browsers and operating systems to the Internet?”. Specifically he referred to email, IM, and web-based services. He also says that the bid threatens the underlying principles of the Internet: openness and innovation.
It’s an incredible piece of PR and, some might suggest, fear-mongering. But let’s throw these questions open. Let us know in the following poll what you think about Google’s response to Microhoo!.
UPDATE: Microsoft has responded to the Google blog post. In a statement from Brad Smith, General Counsel, Microsoft states that “the combination of Microsoft and Yahoo! will create a more competitive marketplace by establishing a compelling number two competitor for Internet search and online advertising”; areas where of course Google is number one. The lawyers are sniping, this battle is getting heated…
