Apparently, the Dr Kai-Fu Lee debacle has done little to deter Google from hiring people away from their archrival, Microsoft.
In case you may not be aware, Dr Kai-Fu Lee, a former Microsoft employee who headed MS’s Chinese R&D facility, was hired by Google to head their Chinese research facility. In response to Google’s move, Microsoft filed an injunction (in which the support documents provide some very entertaining reading) against Dr Lee’s hiring, claiming the move violated an existing non-compete form between Dr Lee and Microsoft.
The arguments for and against the injunction are being heard in Washington state, and according to Andy Beal (welcome back), the presiding judge will be ruling this coming Tuesday.
Although the aftermath of Dr Lee’s hiring has been quite litigious, it has not deterred Google from going back to the Microsoft well in order to staff other facilities. For example, it’s being reported by Barry Schwartz over at SERoundtable that Google has once again hired a former Microsoft employee, Meir Brand; to manage Google’s newly opened Israeli offices. Before Google, Brand worked for AOL, ICQ, Excite, and since 2002, he was employed at Microsoft. Brand’s expertise resides in the business and marketing fields.
So far, there has been no word of Microsoft wanting to block this particular Google hire, however, the day is still young. However, a negative ruling in the Dr Lee case could force Microsoft to react in an unpleasant manner at the news of Brand’s defection to the Google pastures.
Chris Richardson is a search engine writer and editor for Murdok. Visit Murdok for the latest search news.
