Apple and Google made informal deal to not pilfer each other's employees?
By Ross Miller 
posted August 8th 2009 9:52PM
posted August 8th 2009 9:52PM
While not official, sources close to the matter have told TechCrunch that Google and Apple had an informal agreement not to poach each other's employees. Apparently, Google's recruitment division knew and adhered to not actively seeking Apple employees to hire them away, and vice-versa with Apple's recruiters. That's not to say someone who voluntarily submitted a resume would be turned away, but as one published email notes, cold calls were against policy. An agreement to not poach each other's workers, even if not codified, is part of the reason the government has launched antitrust investigations, as it can be considered an obstruction to healthy market competition. It's believed this deal came about as a byproduct of Google CEO Eric Schmidt also being an Apple board member at the time. Of course, with Schmidt finally excusing himself from all portions of Apple's board meetings, there's a chance that hiring agreement walked away with him, and really, we wouldn't be surprised if the federal inquiry also decided to leave the dinner table at this point.
three's company was a great show when i was a kid, and it got better when i got older and got the jokes that went over my head before
You are correct sir, but we can not fix the problems of the past. Unless there is a time machine Engadget hasn't filled us in on yet. Second yes pollution is bad, but what Regan was saying is You can't kill business to stop pollution, because if you use environmental legislation to squeeze corporations out of business then you effect far more people than just those that work at aforementioned corporations. You effect the whole global economy.
We also can't let people get away with things because people got away with it before. That's apathy, and apathy doesn't help anyone.
Your comment boils down to "This does not effect me so until it does I could care less." Well it does effect you. Apple's Monopoly means they can get away with blatantly over charging you. If Pystar was allowed to really get a real foot hold in the market Apple would have to lower their prices. You can go to the computer shop and get all the hardware you need to make a mac clone. It will cost you close to the MSRP , but that is because you are making a one off. If you were buying components in bulk like Apple it would cost you far far less. Any time someone does a tear down and price to produce they are using the market value for the components, and not the extremely discounted price Apple gets for sheer volume of components. That fact clouds the truth. It makes it look like Apple is selling their goods for a reasonable price, but when you factor in the volume discounts you get huge amounts of profit, at your expense. And that pun is totally meant.
We can not excuse the wrongs of today, with the wrongs of the past. You had nothing to do with the past. I had nothing to do with the past, but some people are very much involved in the wrongs of today, and those are the things we Can right, and should care about.
It seems like the government is confused about a strategic alliance vs anti-competitive behavior!
Well any sort of "strategic alliance" between two giant software companies is fundamentally anti-competitive. Whether or not it warrants any response from the government is yet to be certain, but I don't know how you can say that a "strategic alliance" isn't anti-competitive. Any sort of alliance, by definition, stifles competition in some way.
o29 Good on you. Lots of people refuse to stand up and say right is right and wrong is wrong. You are correct fundamentally anti-competitive (good word combo). And any college professor of business is going to be aware that being on competing corporate boards is fundamentally wrong in Business, Business Management, Business Practices, and Business Ethics. All of which are different, but connected courses. Yet they all share that fundamental property.
o29
You're forgetting Apple makes money primary thru selling hardware. Mac OS is less than 10% of the market. Microsoft is in the database software business and yet it is in the strategic alliance with SAP. Do you really think Microsoft has hired away the SAP employees? I doubt that! Why DOJ isn't look into that partnership? Google is only entering the mobile software recently and the Chrome is vaporware at best at the moment. For these reasons, the Anti-competitive behavior claim is completely bogus to say the least!
"You can't kill business to stop pollution, because if you use environmental legislation to squeeze corporations out of business then you effect far more people than just those that work at aforementioned corporations. You effect the whole global economy."
"affect," not "effect."
"We also can't let people get away with things because people got away with it before. That's apathy, and apathy doesn't help anyone."
Except extremists.
"If Pystar"
Psystar
"That fact clouds the truth. It makes it look like Apple is selling their goods for a reasonable price, but when you factor in the volume discounts you get huge amounts of profit, at your expense. And that pun is totally meant."
What pun?
"We can not excuse the wrongs of today, with the wrongs of the past."
Banal, self-important hippie mumbo-jumbo.
iRoc, I don't know where you came from, but you're stinking up the boards with your pointless crusade. At least learn the rules of language before you try to act like a snotty academic.
iRoc,
Just checked your profile and past posts. Looks like you are on some kind of "Engadget conspiracy" bender the likes of which I've never seen -- you make the "apple bias" klaxons look like children.
What is your beef?
C-O-N-spiracy! I can not remember the comedian that explained that.
You want anti-competitive business practices, look at ADP (Automatic Data Processing, Inc.). When laid off from them, and receive a severance package, you're not allowed to work at any of their competitors for 2 years, or all benefits given through said package are lost. And, some of you are claiming that 'hey man, don't call my guy, and i won't call your guy.. you can still hire him if he comes to you, just don't call and ask him to come work for you' anti-competitive.
Well that should be quite obvious.
Clever to bring the fight back up here. Good move. I see you are the strength in this united front.
You are correct I have been advocating the point of view that this very connection is part of a bigger much bigger issue. It's good that you read. So do not think I don't respect you, but just because you've managed to make it inconvenient for people to stumble on the facts doesn't mean you win. I don't miss a thing. smooches ladies. :D
Well that should be quite obvious.
Clever to bring the fight back up here. Good move. I see you are the strength in this united front.
DO NOT JUST MOVE ALONG PEOPLE!!!! Read on.
Also nice that I've been connected to someone of which I'm not. Guilty by association. Nice tactic.
You are correct I have been advocating the point of view that this very connection is part of a bigger much bigger issue. It's good that you read. So do not think I don't respect you, but just because you've managed to make it inconvenient for people to stumble on the facts doesn't mean you win. I don't miss a thing. smooches ladies. :D
Apart from the millions who own the Xbox 360 and play online on Live.
This is definitely evil.
Is it me or does google compete with apple more than microsoft
Yes, it is just you! Because you're talking nonsense! Everyone knows Microsoft competes with everyone in the high tech field. Let me name a few big companies that MS competes with.. Sony, Nintendo, Yahoo, Google, IBM, Apple, Sun, Orcle.
Google is essentially a search and advertising company!
Sounds like an opportunity for a class action lawsuit. To wit the employees of Apple and Google will claim their salaries are artificially low because of limiting potential outside job offers. The plaintiffs will submit briefs from learned economics professors in support of this position. The defendant companies well of of course offer equally authoritative contrary arguments. Eventually the suit will be settled with large payouts to the plaintiff's attorneys and trifling payments to the employees. Ignoring unimportant details we simply have a transfer of wealth from stockholders to lawyers. Ain't America great.
iRoc,
While I agree with some of what you have typed, I definately cannot agree with your elitist "I know the truth and you are all blind idiots" attitude. Even if you claim that facts are reality and anything else is based on emotion, the way you are putting down people for having their own opinions is wrong.
I understand that you FEEL they are completely wrong, but it doesn't give you the right to do anything but try an refute what they say with you reality based facts. There is no reason to bring your emotion filled insults into the conversation, even if you hate Apple and their practices.
iRoc,
While I agree with some of what you have typed, I definately cannot agree with your elitist "I know the truth and you are all blind idiots" attitude. Even if you claim that facts are reality and anything else is based on emotion, the way you are putting down people for having their own opinions is wrong.
I understand that you FEEL they are completely wrong, but it doesn't give you the right to do anything but try an refute what they say with you reality based facts. There is no reason to bring your emotion filled insults into the conversation, even if you hate Apple and their practices.
Ugh double post.
iRoc:
I think you have made excellent well thought out points. Obviously you have done you're research at LEAST enough to know that there is something going on behind the curtain that others don't see right off the bat. I am much more inclined to listen and read your posts just based on the fact that you have actually taken some time to put them together. From what I can see from everyone else, you are the only one with a semi-coherent thought process that has come to some very logical conclusions.
Fan or not, keep on trucking dude.