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Using “Google” in Place of “Hypocrite”

posted on February 4, 2008


Have you ever been accused of being a google?

While Google focuses its efforts to prevent us using its name as a verb–as in, I “googled” their company–it might find that we start using “google” in place of “hypocrite.”

Why?

Because, Google has just posted an official statement on the Microsoft bid for Yahoo, on its official blog. In its response, Google’s David Drummond has the audacity to suggest that we should all be concerned about the potential for Microsoft to monopolize the internet.

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.

Could the acquisition of Yahoo! allow Microsoft — despite its legacy of serious legal and regulatory offenses — to extend unfair practices from browsers and operating systems to the Internet? In addition, Microsoft plus Yahoo! equals an overwhelming share of instant messaging and web email accounts. And between them, the two companies operate the two most heavily trafficked portals on the Internet. Could a combination of the two take advantage of a PC software monopoly to unfairly limit the ability of consumers to freely access competitors’ email, IM, and web-based services? Policymakers around the world need to ask these questions — and consumers deserve satisfying answers.

That statement came from a company that has a 65+% share of the search engine space, is undermining Microsoft with its free online office suite, and has aspirations to take over radio and TV advertising.

I’m a big fan of Google, but c’mon guys. Your statement smacks of hypocrisy. Your veiled attempt to hide your fears in the name of “the interests of Internet users” is laughable.

Google’s the biggest monopoly on the planet. Us “internet users” don’t need one Big Brother to protect us from another.

What do you think? Is Google a hypocrite or is it really looking after our best interests?


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  • http://www.brianchappell.com Brian Chappell

    That is unreal. I am glad I had not started drinking coffee or it woulda gotten spewed across he screen.

    “Google’s David Drummond has the audacity to suggest that we should all be concerned about the potential for Microsoft to monopolize the internet.”

    I think I might print that out and hang it above my monitor for good laughs.

  • http://www.marketingpilgrim.com Andy Beal

    @Brian – LOL, I just realized that statement is funny in two ways. First, that Google has a monopoly, yet doesn’t want anyone else to have one. Second, the one that probably got you spewing coffee, that Microsoft could ever monopolize the internet. ;-)

  • http://www.affordable-internet-marketing.com/ Case Stevens

    It seems as if Google gets more arrogant which each new event that occurs.
    Basically, they’re right though. They only should have added themselves too. :-)

  • http://www.allthingssem.com/ Marios Alexandrou

    If Microsoft had any doubts about whether they were making the right move, I’m sure they’re finding Google’s response very assuring.

  • http://www.acriley.com A.Charlotte Riley

    Hey Andy! Agreed 100% – very hypocritical.But hey, there’s a $40 billion dollar online advertising market at stake..

  • http://blog.cre8asite.net/bwelford/ Barry Welford

    If Google had any sense, they would encourage the acquisition. It’s probably too high a price for Yahoo! as it exists at the moment. In addition, it’s like giving Microsoft a tar baby for those who know their Brer Rabbit stories. Microsoft will undoubtedly do entirely the wrong things with Yahoo! if it gets its hands on it. However on reflection it’s probably no worse for Microsoft than trying to get that dead horse, Live, moving.

  • Dean

    I agree with Barry that a MSFT-YHOO union would take months to gain any traction. While MSFT would inevitably bungle their way through integrating two enormously disparate corporate cultures, Google could continue to build its “market share” (trans: monopoly). I think this is just Google’s attempt to rattle MSFT’s cage; after all, they HATE each other so any means by which they can irritate the other is what they will do.

  • http://andybeard.eu Andy Beard

    Microsoft should also buy the Netscape brand just to rattle a few more cages.

    Maybe this is the first push from Google to have access to their applications (not just email) included by default on many PCs just as trial versions of M$ products are included.

  • http://uniquefrequency.wordpress.com Daryl Tay

    I have to agree with Marios. Google should have just kept their mouth shut. I honestly don’t think they much (if anything) to worry about from Microhoo. Even if it does go through, the months they’ll take to sort out all the paperwork is more than enough for Google to pull out a project or two and gain even more market share of the web.

  • http://aplawrence.com/foo-web/dont_read_my_blog.html Anthony Lawrence

    I think it is just cage rattling. Google knows better than most how weak Yahoo is and how much energy Microsoft will squander on this at a time when its empire is crumbling.

    Microsoft does not grok the Internet and never has.

    Google has nothing to fear.

  • http://www.agerhart.com agerhart

    Amen Andy…well said. I sent this to everyone that has been sending me Google’s PR crap.

  • http://www.thevanblog.com Steven Bradley

    Sure there’s some hypocrisy going on here, but let’s face it this is all just business. Google has a lot of interest in holding off the potential deal.

    But yeah, the words do have a hollow ring to them.

  • http://hawaii-online-advertising.com Hawaii SEO

    You have a point… Google didn’t need to say that. (Everyone else in the world would have said that sooner or later anyway)

    So… Microsoft recently purchased the online advertising/ad-serving giant aQuantitive which was partly in response to Google purchasing Double Click, etc, etc… It’s turning into a two sided arms race.

    Watch for Microsoft to purchase a web analytics package Omniture and then make it free and then Commission junction in an effort to go tit-for-tat with Google Analytics & Performics. (And on and on…) It’s only a matter of time before they start purchasing companies like Axiom Data Corporation and then the major web hosting facilities.

    Anyway… The part that makes me nervous is the consolidation of power into only two companies. I don’t want to post a long-winded rant about this so I’ll just stop right here.

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  • http://www.newhomessection.com Jayson

    Google shouldn’t have said anything in response to the offer. This could be exactly what MSN was after and definitely gives Google investors something to worry about. This isn’t something I would have ever expected from Google and does seem hypocritical.

    Can Microsoft integrate Yahoo and MSN services into their future applications and operating systems? Everything could be integrated, free and stock on every PC.

  • http://www.s-cole.com Shannon

    my vote: hypocrite

    Google uses their power on every chance they get to force people to abide by their rules (ie paid links).

    They’re only interested in their own self interest.

    ~Shannon

  • http://blog.vortexdna.com Kaila Colbin

    Have to agree with you on this one, Andy. Does anyone else see the potential for this letter to be used against Google in an anti-trust suit? “According to your own words, Mr. Drummond, it’s inappropriate to establish proprietary monopolies — and then leverage your dominance into new, adjacent markets….”

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  • http://www.jordankasteler.com/utah-seo-pro-blog/ Utah SEO

    Google has no concern for anybody’s interests but their own. They’re like politicians.

  • http://technologyslice.blogspot.com/2008/02/crackberry-taking-over-lives.html Blackberry

    I find it quite funny. Like you said it’s very hypocritical of them. I especially liked the part where they were complaining about Microsoft leveraging their monopoly to go into adjacent markets. Google is king at doing this exact thing.

  • http://bizwriter.wordpress.com bizwriter

    My first guess would be that Google panicked and so it issued such a statement. Then again, I can’t believe that Google is panicking so easily; neither, I believe, it is so naive to make such a backlash-provoking statement. Who knows? Maybe the legal department is taking over Google.

  • http://bushidoblog.com.ar Zen

    I’m going with ‘hypocrite’.

  • http://mp3world.inf Chucks

    How can one possibly be google? I’ve never heard of that.

  • http://www.practicalcogitators.com Tim Madel

    Andy,

    You are spot on. I had exactly the same sentiment when I read Google’s statement which reeks of hypocrisy.

    I welcome Microsoft’s acquisition of Yahoo as I believe it will create a more formidable competitor to Google. And competition, while messy and sometimes painful, always leads to better things for all of us.

    I would also say the fear that the internet will become dominated by these two huge corporations is unfounded. While they may dominate in the short-term, someone will always come along to disrupt the status quo. Google did it themselves in the late 90′s.

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