Russell Beattie: Is Google Playing Games?

Russell Beattie Notebook

Russell, thanks for the inside information on the service. Its good that you point out both contractual and real-life issues. However, I think everyone needs to remember some basic tenants of capitalism, commerce and (if you went to business school in the 1980s like I did), Michael Porter's "Five Forces" model. It's a bit like "caveat emptor". Google's not required to do one thing to make you happy, ever, unless you're an owner/shareholder and earnings-per-share equates to happiness for you. If it does so, it's by accident and should be looked at in that way. Your pursuit of a competing service is EXACTLY the right response, as you're unhappy with Google's service. Short of that, move on.

I deal with contracts, particularly in the software license arena, all of the time. They're written for a reason and should be taken seriously. Those that think of the small print as some "legalese" that need not concern them are ignorant, misinformed, foolish, or all of the preceding. The words matter. Hold Google to those words just as they'll vigorously hold you to them. In the end, however, return to Porter's "forces" and realize were the bargaining strength lies.

This is not about "good and evil" or "right and wrong". It's just commerce: as it's always been and as it will always be.