Google CEO Not Leaving Apple's Board
Google’s Eric Schmidt has no intentions of resigning from Apple board.
Earlier in the week, reports indicated that the Federal Trade Commission is said to be looking into the ties between the Google and Apple Boards. The Google CEO and Arthur Levinson, the former chief executive of Genentech, sit on the boards of both companies and antitrust laws give the government the freedom to intervene if directors sit on the boards of two competing companies, particularly if their presence threatens to reduce competition.
When the story broke, experts told the WSJ that it was a rarely pursued issue in the business world, partly because it is difficult to prove the impact of the overlapping directors on either company but partly because it’s easily resolved with a resignation from one director. Yesterday the Wall Street Journal cited Schmidt as saying he would be keeping his seat on the Apple board of directors, claiming Apple was not a Google competitor. So browsers, mail clients and mobile platforms don’t count then?
WSJ
In a gathering Thursday with reporters before Google's annual shareholder meeting, Mr. Schmidt said that resigning from the Apple board hasn't crossed his mind. "I don't think Google sees Apple as a primary competitor," he said.
While the ties between the two board members seemed fairly innocuous, the fact that Schmidt is apparently determined to not resign from his position on the Apple board is a bit of a head scratcher.
Speaking to the WSJ Kent Walker, Google's general counsel argued that the antitrust laws are clear that there is a "safe harbor" for companies that don't have overlapping revenue, adding that Google is comfortable with that position.
Of course not. No conflict of interest here.
"I'm detecting some sarcasm.
I should hope so cause I'm laying it on pretty thick"
I still say Apple's iPhone OS vs. Google's Android, and Safari vs. Chrome make them direct competitors. Long gone are the days when Microsoft could say it wasn't competing because it was giving IE away for free, no one buys that anymore.
WTF dude. I hope you get fucking banned. What is it with this shit? We're reading the fucking article already, you don't need to comment a new headline and a link to the article we already just read.
made my day..
Chrome... Safari
iPhone OS... Android OS
iTunes... youtube
iCalendar... Google Calendar
iPhoto... Picasa
iChat... Google Talk
Definitely not competing in any way. Did you want to sell me a bridge Mr. Schmidt?
Chrome... Safari (Both are free and make zero profit)
iPhone OS... Android OS Iphone is proprietary and a closed system, Andriod is free.
iTunes... youtube (iTunes is proprietary and closed, youtube is free)
iCalendar... Google Calendar (ical is proprietary and google cal is free)
iPhoto... Picasa (must i really go on?)
iChat... Google Talk (you still dont get it)
Free vs proprietary software that only works with Mac, how is that competing? its like saying Mac OS vs Windows, there is no competition, Apple lost a long time ago in the OS market, all they provide now is another choice.