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What's the Oracle Trial Against SAP Really About?

Ponca City writes "Chris O'Brien writes in the Merucry News that Larry Ellison's lawsuit against bitter rival SAP gives Ellison the opportunity to deliver the final humiliation to his company's greatest foe of the past decade while sending a blunt message to Oracle's next great enemy, Hewlett-Packard: 'This is who you are fighting. This is how determined we are to win. Get ready.' O'Brien writes that it's a crafty bit of psychological warfare that is already having the desired effect. When Oracle decided to subpoena former SAP CEO Léo Apotheker after he was appointed president and CEO of HP, Apotheker decided to stay out of the country to avoid testifying so now we have the bizarre spectacle of the new CEO of the largest technology company in the world unable to show his face in Silicon Valley. Ellison loves to fight. In gaining control of PeopleSoft, Ellison demonstrated the love of combat and confrontation that has made him one of the wealthiest men on the planet. He waged an 18-month hostile takeover bid to acquire the company, and fought off an effort by the US Department of Justice to torpedo the deal. 'Oracle probably could have settled this case [with SAP],' writes O'Brien. 'But why pass up a glorious chance to subpoena Apotheker and send your new opponent running in circles?'"

5 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What is it with technology companies? by garyisabusyguy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, because software that is designed by an unfocused group people with no direction is sooooooo useful.

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    Wherever You Go, There You Are
  2. Re:slashdot unbiased? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Microsoft SQL Server?

  3. Alternate bests from Genghis Cohen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Hot water, good dentistry, and soft lavatory paper.

  4. Re:Beautiful... by KingAlanI · · Score: 4, Funny

    As I've seen elsewhere on /. :

    Move over Darth Gates, it's time for Darth Ellison
    ORACLE = One Rich Asshole Called Larry Ellison

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    I listen to both RIAA and non-RIAA stuff if I like the music, tangential business/politics nonwithstanding.
  5. Re:Larry Ellison's character by Mazzie · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nobody has ever lay on their death bed and uttered with their final breath, "I wish I had more money."

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