Google Backlash in The New York Times
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Written By Reprise Media | August 24, 2005 | Share This
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When you think of corporate villians the name “Google” doesn’t usually one that comes to mind. Yet a recent article in The New York Times explains why the Big G is becoming more like Microsoft by the minute.
Gary Rivlin is the author of the piece, titled Relax, Bill Gates; It’s Google’s Turn as the Villian. In it he describes the changing climate in Silicon Valley, one that’s turning away from a view of Google as golden child upstart and toward a perception of the company as estranged from its entrepreneurial culture and a threat to free innovation.
Says Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn, a popular business networking site:
“Google is doing more damage to innovation in the Valley right now than Microsoft ever did. It’s largely that they’re hiring up so many talented people, and the fact they’re working on so many different things. It’s harder for start-ups to do interesting stuff right now.”
It’s an interesting piece featuring quotes from a lot of diverse sources. Even though critics could dismiss it as a reporter with an agenda, some of the points raised are pretty valid.
It’s always scary when a major corporate entity with a ton of money has such a benign reputation. It either means the company is completely free from evil, despite an abundance of power and money. Or (much more likely) people just aren’t paying attention.
Topics: Technology |