Google and Microsoft Lob More Lawsuits

crowemojo writes "According to a Business Week article Google has filed a counter-suit against Microsoft in reaction to the lawsuit that Microsoft filed when a corporate VP left to join the ranks of Google. Microsoft claims that the VP violated his non-compete agreement and Google claims that Microsoft is violating California laws giving workers the right to change jobs. Interestingly enough, the VP in question never lived in California!"

Comments

Just because he went to Google

[901701]

Mr. Burt of Microsoft said the company had been aware of Dr. Lee's interest in returning to China but was unable to offer him a leadership position there that is senior enough to suit his desires

So he found a job to suit his desires elsewhere. Does anyone think Microsoft would be making this big a deal if it wasn't Google that hired him?

Re:Just because he went to Google

[GreyPoopon]

For those who dont know: MS crippled Borland by offering their *TOP* 40 engineers *DOUBLE* their salaries to work at MS.

But did the Borland engineers have a non-compete clause in their contract?

Re:Just because he went to Google

[Taladar]

Seriously, how can a contract clause saying "when you quit you can not work in this industry for x months" be legal? Isn't that a serious hole in basic worker rights?

Bad for Microsoft recruiting?

[deranged unix nut]

This seems like a bad move for Microsoft. They already seem to have a hard time finding people willing to work for them. Every Microsoftie that I have talked to recently says that their groups are short headcount or have open headcount and haven't been able to fill positions for quite a while.

Who wants to work for a company that will sue you when you move on to a new, more exciting job?