Microsoft, Google quarrel before the court

The case of Microsoft charging Google and Kai-Fu Lee, which had been attracting wide attention from the IT circles since July, was heard on August 6 in the United States.

Google happened to launch its local search service to Chinese users a day earlier, and James Mi, who is in charge of Google's products in the Asia-Pacific region, refused to comment on the lawsuit in a telephone interview with Chinese media. But he made clear that Google headquarters has no limit on the number of talents being recruited in China and funds put on the Chinese market.

The case was complicated as both sides presented new evidence to the court. According to foreign report on September 3, Microsoft submitted to the court a file charging its former vice-president Kai-Fu Lee of disclosing confidential documents to Google before leaving his post, claiming that Lee's suggestions included where Google should locate its office, whom to be employed and how to take away staff members of Microsoft, etc. And Google presented to the court evidence unfavorable to Microsoft.

Google announced on July 19 its appointment of Kai-Fu Lee, whose position was the highest among Microsoft-employed Chinese, as its China division president. Microsoft reacted strongly by accusing Kai-Fu Lee of breaking the "non-competition promise" he signed with Microsoft. Google then lodged a countercharge, kicking off a court battle between the two global IT giants.

By People's Daily Online