Google opened an R&D center in the world's most populous country this month. Of China's 1.3 billion people, roughly 100 million of them are already online (30% with broadband connections) There are 350 million cellphone users (entire US population: about 296 million).

The CEOs of both Yahoo and eBay have both stated that they expect China to comprise the largest part of their businesses within 10 years. It's no wonder many tech titans are salivating over this market. As part of their strategy to establish themselves in China, Google hired one Dr. Kai-Fu Lee, a computer scientist who's enormously respected in China, to head their research center and serve as President of Google's Chinese operations.

The problem was that Dr. Kai-Fu Lee was hired away from Microsoft and continues to be under a non-compete agreement with them. Microsoft has filed suit, seeking monetary damages as well as an injunction upholding the non-compete clause of Lee's contract. This includes barring him from sharing Microsoft trade secrets.

Google, in turn, counter-sued Microsoft, asking the court to declare Microsoft's non-compete clause invalid. Clearly, the fight is not over Dr. Kai-Fu Lee or any non-compete agreement, but over who's going to come out on top in what is rapidly shaping up to be the world's largest market for search.

This is a huge coup for Google. Any monetary damages received by Microsoft will be paltry by comparison. Whatever the settlement, it's likely to be far less than the monetary advantages of having Dr. Kai-Fu Lee lead Google into the burgeoning Chinese search market.

I believe China is really focusing in improving their IT industry so as to compete with Japan and otehr western countries.

Chinease are doing well with ICT, and i hope google wins the battle, who cares if he worked for microsoft.

OBVISOSLY he must be made not to share secrets, but theirs no way to do that. Microsoft should of kept their secrets more secure, and not let one person see them all, just the one he is working on.

Dito to Google! Very good move on their behalf.

Originally Posted by NuWeb.co.uk

Chinease are doing well with ICT, and i hope google wins the battle, who cares if he worked for microsoft.

OBVISOSLY he must be made not to share secrets, but theirs no way to do that. Microsoft should of kept their secrets more secure, and not let one person see them all, just the one he is working on.

I think that's just the dirty political side of the coproate world.

IS anyone else getting sick of these companies going overseas? It is time that we start standing up to these companies. I think it is a stupid move by Google. The whole idea of opening the center is China is a big mistake. Jobs are needed in America ... NOT CHINA!

**Steps down from the soap box**

Originally Posted by MightyMaster

IS anyone else getting sick of these companies going overseas? It is time that we start standing up to these companies. I think it is a stupid move by Google. The whole idea of opening the center is China is a big mistake. Jobs are needed in America ... NOT CHINA!

**Steps down from the soap box**

I absolutely disagree with MightyMaster. What he says is so very unfair. American's have lived off the global economy theory, and now when its been accepted by other countries like China and India, they are getting bangalore pimples. This is absolutely unfair. You cannot set all the rules in your favour and still complain.
What if a job is being outsourced from China or India to America, are the Americans gonna say "No Thank You. We can't accept this coz it'll hurt your economy"? Bull****. They'll take the job with spread arms. This is a serious problem of double standards which Americans have been exhibiting lately.

Let's have a fair ground for every nation. If they are a part of this global economy, they've got to back it, even if its the *mighty* america.

Originally Posted by MightyMaster

IS anyone else getting sick of these companies going overseas? It is time that we start standing up to these companies. I think it is a stupid move by Google. The whole idea of opening the center is China is a big mistake. Jobs are needed in America ... NOT CHINA!

**Steps down from the soap box**

move to china.

when are they comming to other countries ?

Originally Posted by monkey

move to china.

LOL

Yeah, the comment above totally missed the point that America is so rich today because it was able to trade effectively on the global market. I'll bet China wasn't complaining when McDonalds set up their xxxxxxxth store there, even if it meant bye-bye to the local neighborhood restaurant. Now that other countries are becoming aware of global trading, they are suddenly reacting because it negatively affects them.

Originally Posted by shashank_hi

I absolutely disagree with MightyMaster. What he says is so very unfair. American's have lived off the global economy theory, and now when its been accepted by other countries like China and India, they are getting bangalore pimples. This is absolutely unfair. You cannot set all the rules in your favour and still complain.
What if a job is being outsourced from China or India to America, are the Americans gonna say "No Thank You. We can't accept this coz it'll hurt your economy"? Bull****. They'll take the job with spread arms. This is a serious problem of double standards which Americans have been exhibiting lately.

Let's have a fair ground for every nation. If they are a part of this global economy, they've got to back it, even if its the *mighty* america.

I agree with your view ! China is has the development potential the country.The whole world economics integration cannot leave the Chinese economy the development ! We should support the Chinese economy rising, believed our tomorrow will be happier!

I am shocked by all your replies ... I don't want to hear any of you bad mouth my president then about the economy because you are support the fact that Google is going overseas.

I am really disappointed in you all. Sad

BTW Wouldn't moving to China completely defeat my whole comment? It is time that WE AS AMERICANS support our country and stop supporting CHINA!!! Let CHINA fight for their own jobs!!!

As for shashank_hi - The only reason you are saying the things you are is because you are from India and don't know about the US Economy. I didn't say it was wrong for China to except the job .... what I am saying is that it is wrong for Google to offer the job to China. America needs jobs.

If you can't beat them, join them.

That's the only reasonnable answer about actual word economy.

Your philosophy is obsolete, MightyMaster. Sorry.

You don't realize that, because you are talking on an english language forum (this one!), you are talking with a lot of non-american people. Please don't complaint about it: it's a sort of victory for your country. Just be realistic about the fact that when you say "WE AS AMERICAN...", you're not listened by everybody. The "rich part" of the word is growing quickly. The american part of this "rich part" is going down each day. Whatever you like it or not, it's like that.

You're pride to be american and you're right. America is a great nation. But it's less and less the center of the word. If you don't want to become a sort of David Vincent, live with your time!

Did you thinck about the fact that Google will win money by working with China?

The quizz of the day is:
Why is Google doing that?
1- Because they love chineese people and absolutely want to give jobs to them.
2- Because they want to be involved in and to control a part of the chineese economy.

Originally Posted by MightyMaster

BTW Wouldn't moving to China completely defeat my whole comment? It is time that WE AS AMERICANS support our country and stop supporting CHINA!!! Let CHINA fight for their own jobs!!!

As for shashank_hi - The only reason you are saying the things you are is because you are from India and don't know about the US Economy. I didn't say it was wrong for China to except the job .... what I am saying is that it is wrong for Google to offer the job to China. America needs jobs.

you sound like a typical selfish american.


mods please split this thread or something because it is on some weird tangent.

I just don't see anything wrong with American companies dealing with foreign countries like China. I think more people will benefit from partnerships between countries.

Originally Posted by luke456

I just don't see anything wrong with American companies dealing with foreign countries like China. I think more people will benefit from partnerships between countries.

YES! You are right !

Maybe I am a selfish American but shouldn't I be? Our technology is great ... our country is great ... our leadership is great! Trust me .... What is in it for the United States to offer these jobs to the chinese? Absolutely nothing but cheap labor. Pick up the phone and call a support line ... what do you get ... somebody in some other country who can't speak english. America needs to support itself first ... then they can help other countries. America is not benefiting at all in this deal.