“Small” PR headache for Google ahead…

December 11, 2006 By

It’s the small things that will cause your PR teams headaches.

I’m sure someone at Google thought it was OK to copy a page Yahoo did. Details on TechMeme, thanks to getting kicked off by Yahoo’s Jeremy Zawodny. Maybe even thought the page came from Microsoft. Hint, it didn’t.

It’s at the top of TechMeme. Is on second page of Digg. On first page of TailRank.

But it gets worse. The person doing the copying didn’t even copy the HTML very well. Not good. Especially for a company that prides itself on hiring PhD’s and keeping out idiots. Hey, one got through the hiring process.

But, so far, they are way too slow to react. Matt Cutts, who over the weekend, debunked a bunch of other things, has been silent. The Google Blog is silent too.

Here’s how I would have handled it.

1) Found out who did the page and get them to publicly apologize.
2) Buy the Yahoo team they copied pizza lunch and beer tomorrow. Even better, have a limo show up and take them to a nice steak dinner.
3) If #1 isn’t possible (it might be an outside vendor, I found at Microsoft that often was where stuff like this happened) then have someone like Matt or, even, a VP like Marissa, apologize on behalf of Google.
4) Explain that this isn’t acceptable Google behavior (evil, even) and that steps are being taken to keep it from happening again. Just by saying “that’s evil” will be good enough to tell all Google employees that this kind of thing won’t be tolerated in the future.

It’s the little things that define companies and Google is being defined right in front of us.

For my part? The folks I’ve dealt with at Google are ethical, straight shooters, who wouldn’t dream of copying someone else’s work. This has got to be ripping them up. Tough day ahead for Google PR. It’ll be interesting to see what they do, if anything.

Rex Dixon thinks it’s smart to copy. I can see his point — developers are “inspired” by others all the time. But sheer copying? No. It’s unethical, for one. For two, if you’re going to copy you better add some value. Hint: that means making sure your HTML and images are better than what you’re copying. Not worse.

UPDATED: Google has updated the site in question.

UPDATED 2: Matt Cutts of Google answers back. Note to self: don’t point out someone else is copying if you’re guilty of such transgressions yourself!

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  • blogger@wordpress

    Sad. But i think this was something that slipped out un-intentionally. Someone was designing a page based on Yahoo’s. Started with a spoof that should have slipped out. Still it was a mistake.

    But nothing to worry for google. fanboys were already countering that this was Microsoft’s brilliant under hand tactic to get back at Google.

  • blogger@wordpress

    Sad. But i think this was something that slipped out un-intentionally. Someone was designing a page based on Yahoo’s. Started with a spoof that should have slipped out. Still it was a mistake.

    But nothing to worry for google. fanboys were already countering that this was Microsoft’s brilliant under hand tactic to get back at Google.

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Blogger: probably. Or someone thought it was a Microsoft page and it was OK to use as a template.

    But, everyone probably thought this was a “small” story. Problem is that the memes attached to it (that Google’rs can’t do their own code, and even when they steal, can’t do it very well) are pretty serious ones.

  • blogger@wordpress

    Talking about Google and PR here’s some more fodder – http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2006-12-11-n75.html

    I find this incredibly arrogant. May be some find it funny.

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Blogger: probably. Or someone thought it was a Microsoft page and it was OK to use as a template.

    But, everyone probably thought this was a “small” story. Problem is that the memes attached to it (that Google’rs can’t do their own code, and even when they steal, can’t do it very well) are pretty serious ones.

  • blogger@wordpress

    Talking about Google and PR here’s some more fodder – http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2006-12-11-n75.html

    I find this incredibly arrogant. May be some find it funny.

  • http://todd.dailey.info/ Todd Dailey

    Well, at least they have Microsoft to keep them company. :)

    http://daringfireball.net/2006/12/microsoft_workgroup_manager_icon

  • http://todd.dailey.info Todd Dailey

    Well, at least they have Microsoft to keep them company. :)

    http://daringfireball.net/2006/12/microsoft_workgroup_manager_icon

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Todd: touche!

    Blogger: that wasn’t done by Google, though. I liked it, though, but lots of people think I’m arrogant, so there!

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Todd: touche!

    Blogger: that wasn’t done by Google, though. I liked it, though, but lots of people think I’m arrogant, so there!

  • Bob Jones

    Speaking of blatant theft:

    http://daringfireball.net/2006/12/microsoft_workgroup_manager_icon

    Of course Microsoft stealing something from Apple isn’t exactly new.

  • Bob Jones

    Speaking of blatant theft:

    http://daringfireball.net/2006/12/microsoft_workgroup_manager_icon

    Of course Microsoft stealing something from Apple isn’t exactly new.

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Bob: nope. Look at Zune. :-)

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Bob: nope. Look at Zune. :-)

  • blogger@wordpress

    Robert@5 Yes. I do know that it wasn’t by google. And i do think it will pass off as funny. But it left a bad taste when i read through.

    Particularly the part about “How to make sure google ignore my requests?” which implies it’s just a matter of mailing ‘press@google.com’ to get Google’s responses. May be in some parallel universe. what do i know!!

  • blogger@wordpress

    Robert@5 Yes. I do know that it wasn’t by google. And i do think it will pass off as funny. But it left a bad taste when i read through.

    Particularly the part about “How to make sure google ignore my requests?” which implies it’s just a matter of mailing ‘press@google.com’ to get Google’s responses. May be in some parallel universe. what do i know!!

  • http://rexdixon.wordpress.com/ rexdixon

    Ha! Nice one. It’s not “smart to copy”. It’s smart to copy smartly. :)

    Seriously, when I lack time, I do post a few sentences and link to other articles. When I do have the time, I have cranked out a few more words.

    As far as the ad goes, Google vs Yahoo – Yes, that was blatant, and maybe it was Google saying “Hey, we are #1, what are you going to do?” If nothing else – it makes for great reading on the blogs.

    Rex

  • http://rexdixon.wordpress.com/ rexdixon

    Ha! Nice one. It’s not “smart to copy”. It’s smart to copy smartly. :)

    Seriously, when I lack time, I do post a few sentences and link to other articles. When I do have the time, I have cranked out a few more words.

    As far as the ad goes, Google vs Yahoo – Yes, that was blatant, and maybe it was Google saying “Hey, we are #1, what are you going to do?” If nothing else – it makes for great reading on the blogs.

    Rex

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  • Mike

    Definitely not a template – look at USA Today’s site: http://www.usatoday.com/marketing/ie7/download.htm

  • Mike

    Definitely not a template – look at USA Today’s site: http://www.usatoday.com/marketing/ie7/download.htm

  • http://www.thecomicproject.blogspot.com/ The Comic Project

    Now the Google PR hack will send out a cute reply and everyone will go gaga about its PR machine and how un-evil it is. And what’s up with M$? It allows Google to piggyback on IE7 or is it the other way around?

  • Chris

    Heh, someone else with a PR headache after “making up” a blog site: http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/11/sony-marketers-are-horrible-liars-pretend-to-run-fansite/

  • http://www.thecomicproject.blogspot.com The Comic Project

    Now the Google PR hack will send out a cute reply and everyone will go gaga about its PR machine and how un-evil it is. And what’s up with M$? It allows Google to piggyback on IE7 or is it the other way around?

  • Chris

    Heh, someone else with a PR headache after “making up” a blog site: http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/11/sony-marketers-are-horrible-liars-pretend-to-run-fansite/

  • http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/ Matt Cutts

    I posted the apology here:
    http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/ie7-promo-page/

    I know it would suck to have someone copy your HTML layout on a page that is seen thousands of times a day.

  • http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/ Matt Cutts

    I posted the apology here:
    http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/ie7-promo-page/

    I know it would suck to have someone copy your HTML layout on a page that is seen thousands of times a day.

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Heheh, great one Matt!

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Heheh, great one Matt!

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  • itsnotvalid

    Just I want to see did you mean this:
    http://theappleblog.com/2006/12/11/microsoft-gives-up-trying-and-starts-blatantly-copying/

    If yes, then you better buy an apple for Apple.

  • itsnotvalid

    Just I want to see did you mean this:
    http://theappleblog.com/2006/12/11/microsoft-gives-up-trying-and-starts-blatantly-copying/

    If yes, then you better buy an apple for Apple.

  • bess

    Ha ha…
    The biggest winner in this holiday reason is Microsoft IE Team!

    It shows even Google is catching up the trend on browser version upgrade.

    Yahoooo! The entire SV pick up the news that IE team is coming in town soon. And Yahoo top brain will be moderating the “Browser War: Episode II Attacks of the DOMs”.

    Merry X’mas Microsoft! Nice piece on the Vista Economic Impact PR.

  • bess

    Ha ha…
    The biggest winner in this holiday reason is Microsoft IE Team!

    It shows even Google is catching up the trend on browser version upgrade.

    Yahoooo! The entire SV pick up the news that IE team is coming in town soon. And Yahoo top brain will be moderating the “Browser War: Episode II Attacks of the DOMs”.

    Merry X’mas Microsoft! Nice piece on the Vista Economic Impact PR.

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  • PRoales

    Wow, what incredibly bad advice.

    Follow Scobble – Have story end up on front page of WSJ

    Do Nothing – Have story limited to the digg crowd

    Why make this into a major issue, when no one but the blog’s knows or cares right now?

  • PRoales

    Wow, what incredibly bad advice.

    Follow Scobble – Have story end up on front page of WSJ

    Do Nothing – Have story limited to the digg crowd

    Why make this into a major issue, when no one but the blog’s knows or cares right now?

  • TAG

    Robert,

    You are cheap. If you think that after stealing it’s fine to settle for pizza to drive in limo – you are wrong.

    Just like you have protected Microsoft RSS team then stolen image was replaced with Goatse – you are now protecting Google.

    I remember how you have reacted then somebody reposted content of your blog. I think you even put large blame on innocent programmer that day. So – stealing is good as long as somebody does not steal from you ?

    Copyrights exists for some reason – and it’s not to break them – but follow.

  • TAG

    Robert,

    You are cheap. If you think that after stealing it’s fine to settle for pizza to drive in limo – you are wrong.

    Just like you have protected Microsoft RSS team then stolen image was replaced with Goatse – you are now protecting Google.

    I remember how you have reacted then somebody reposted content of your blog. I think you even put large blame on innocent programmer that day. So – stealing is good as long as somebody does not steal from you ?

    Copyrights exists for some reason – and it’s not to break them – but follow.

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  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    TAG: I don’t care that my content was copied. I cared that that guy’s software trackbacked to every post (and everything I linked to) which was a real nuisance. My stuff is copied all over the place.

    But, that is a separate point anyway. I am pretty sure I made the point above that it’s evil to just wholesale copy someone else’s work. Did you not see that?

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    TAG: I don’t care that my content was copied. I cared that that guy’s software trackbacked to every post (and everything I linked to) which was a real nuisance. My stuff is copied all over the place.

    But, that is a separate point anyway. I am pretty sure I made the point above that it’s evil to just wholesale copy someone else’s work. Did you not see that?

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    PRoales: many a story has ended up on the front page of the WSJ WITHOUT having a PR team react. Why look like an asshole? Why let a competitor define you in the marketplace? Especially one that has done stuff just as bad?

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    PRoales: many a story has ended up on the front page of the WSJ WITHOUT having a PR team react. Why look like an asshole? Why let a competitor define you in the marketplace? Especially one that has done stuff just as bad?

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  • Sean

    I nominate this as the stupidest, most unimportant, overhyped story of the year. WHO. CARES. I want to stop reading about this already. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

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