p2pnet - rss feed: Google, Microsoft, Kai-Fu Lee
p2p news / p2pnet: Google and Microsoft have come to terms in their fight over Google’s hiring of ex-Microsoft vp Kai-Fu Lee.
Google hired Lee to lead an R&D center in China, angering Bill and the Boyz.
“Microsoft in July won a temporary ruling enforcing an employment contract signed by Lee that barred him from working on some technical projects at competitors,” says Bloomberg News, going on:
” The dispute between Google and Microsoft had ratcheted up tensions between the companies as they compete for a bigger share of the Internet search market. Google this week signed an advertising agreement with Time Warner Inc.’s AOL, edging out Microsoft, which tried for almost a year to sell its own search technology to AOL.”
The story has employment lawyer Anthony Oncidi saying, “I’m speculating that Microsoft started the negotiation by saying they wanted Lee not to work for the remaining seven months of his agreement.”
It’s, “unclear what work Lee can perform under the settlement disclosed Thursday,” says the San Francisco Chronicle.
“Evidence that emerged from the case showed the animosity between Google and Microsoft, including an alleged tirade by Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive. A current Google employee recounted in a deposition that, after the employee disclosed plans to leave Microsoft, Ballmer tossed a chair across the room and vowed to kill Google. Microsoft later denied the incident took place.”
Also See:
Bloomberg News - Google, Microsoft Agree to End Suit Over China Research Chief, December 23, 2005
San Francisco Chronicle - Google settles hiring suit, December 23, 2005
