1. This incident
illustrates some of the potential problems for small software developers
working with giant software manufacturers to extend or enhance their products.
Provide two good reasons why small developers should still consider working
closely with large software firms.
- The two reasons might
to have more connection to other companies and to always have a project because
if you have connection with other companies, if they have a problem they will automatically
contact you since they already know you.
2. What measures could
LimitNone have taken to better protect itself from Google’s alleged actions?
What measures could Google have taken to protect itself from this lawsuit?
- Maybe if they had made
the contract then it could be used to protect them, I guess. Maybe they must
hire an excellent lawyer.
3. Do research on the
Web to find out how this case is proceeding in the courts. Write a short
summary of your findings.
- Apparently Chicago-based
firm Limit None is suing Google for misappropriating the trade secrets of its
“gMove” application that Google allegedly used to develop its Email Uploader.
The two-count lawsuit also
claims Google violated Illinois’ consumer fraud laws.
The lawsuit was filed
Tuesday by Kelley Drye & Warren LLP – “the same commercial litigation group
which challenged Google over the company’s online advertising system,” SlashDot
noted.
Details of the suit can be
found in the press release sent out by the law firm.
“Its shocking that Google
would engage in this type of conduct; particularly when the other party is a
small software company that built its business specifically to help Google sell
its existing and future products,” said Susan Greenspon of the Chicago office
of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. “People need to realize that Google is just
another large publicly traded corporation that will do whatever it takes to
increase its revenue, even if that means risking its reputation among
developers.”
The lawsuit alleges that in
February, 2007 Google launched a suite of business software applications called
Google Apps. The software was designed to challenge Microsoft’s Office suite of
products (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) which has 500 million users. According to
the lawsuit, unlike Microsoft’s products, Google Apps does not require a
customer to download software onto his or her computer. Instead, Google Apps is
a collection of web-based applications that reside on Google’s servers. The
lawsuit alleges at the time of its launch, however, Google did not have a
workable way to enable Microsoft Outlook users to easily migrate their email
(called gMail), calendar and contacts to Google’s platform.
In early 2007, LimitNone
developed just such a product to solve this problem and in March confidentially
demonstrated the migration tool to senior members of the Google Apps team.
According to the complaint, the Google Apps executives invited LimitNone to be
part of the Google Enterprise Professional Program, to further develop and
market the tool, and assured the company that it had no intention of developing
a similar product.
The lawsuit alleges the
tool, which was originally named “MY GRATE” was later renamed, at Google’s
insistence, “gMove”. Though the product retailed for $29, Google asked that
LimitNone sell it to Google’s customers for $19.
The lawsuit claims that
throughout the remainder of 2007, Google promoted LimitNone and gMove and
repeatedly told company executives that it would not develop a competing
product. Google highlighted gMove on its website and introduced the company to
its largest customers (including Proctor & Gamble, Intel, Orbitz, Morgan
Stanley and Toys “R” Us). In addition, Google asked LimitNone to present the
product to its technical sales personnel, to meet with the Google Open Source
team and to continuously share updated versions of gMove.
In December, 2007, as
detailed in the complaint Google told LimitNone that it would, in fact, be
releasing a competing product and giving it away for free to its “Premier”
customers. The lawsuit alleges that Google’s product, called “Google Email
Uploader” steals gMove’s look, feel and functionality.
According to the complaint,
Scott McMullan, a senior executive in the Google Apps partner program, told
LimitNone that the potential for 50 million users – was “just too big to come
from someone else” and that “this is how Google operates.”
http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2053931/Google-Getting-Sued-For-1-Billion-Over-Gmail-Tool
I Guess if that is how
Google operates, then maybe let us just respect of what the Judges and Juries
decisions. But for the part of the Limit None, it’s too painful to be treated
like that, I know everyone is doing their best to be competitive and to earn
much but I think we must not offend someone that much. But this is only my
comment, and whoever is reading this. I hope you will not treat this seriously.
This is for the completion of our projects only.
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