Copyright: Microsoft shot at Google justified or just garbage?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Wednesday, 07 March 2007 19:44

Opinion and Analysis

Microsoft here is taking the high ground in saying that working with copyright holders is what their gameplan was from day one, whether by Microsoft scanning other’s works with permission, or being able to access the digital repository of works that publishing houses have themselves created.

A ‘dashboard’ gives publishing houses the ability to customize what part of each book is searchable, what the descriptive text is for each book and other customizable elements. Where a publisher has their own repository, Microsoft works to ensure seamless access between their search facilities and third party repositories.

What has aroused the interest of the world beyond Microsoft’s blatant attack of Google at the Association of American Publishers, an organization that is battling elements of Google’s Book Search programs, is that it all smacks of jealousy and opportunism at a time when Google is attacking Microsoft on several fronts.

Of course, in the battle of the search engines, Google is the clear winner. I have access to Windows Live Search in the top right hand corner of my browser, which I still haven’t changed to search Google. Every time I search with Microsoft’s search engine, the results still to this day don’t seem to be as good as Google’s. While they are undoubtedly improving, one of these days, sooner rather than later, my IE7 search box will point to Windows Live Search no more.

Google has made waves with the Google Apps package. While this is still far inferior to the rather excellent Office 2007, it offers collaborative capabilities in an instant, without the need to set up SharePoint servers or hire someone skilled in the language of Microsoftia – and Google Apps will no doubt continue improving quite dramatically in the months and years ahead.

Google Earth is still far superior to the admittedly improving Microsoft equivalent. And Google is collaborating with another of Microsoft’s fierce competitors, Apple, in more and more ways, no doubt sending shivers up Microsoft’s spine.

Microsoft is also insanely jealous of Google’s ability to generate so much money from advertising around other people’s content. The idea of Microsoft making their sub-par ‘Microsoft Works’ package available in online form with advertising has been floated, but so far has been a non-starter, with a weak ‘Office Live’ instead that offers little access to Office, but instead lets you create your own website.

Let’s face it: Microsoft has tried to copy Google in many ways, and so far, has failed spectacularly. So, when under attack, the best form of defense would seem to be to attack back, and thanks to Thomas Rubin, they are doing exactly that.