5 ms·

With much of the sexual impropriety stories at Uber, is it really a good PR move for Google to go ahead with such acquisition?

dragonwriter 9y ago
> With much of the sexual impropriety stories at Uber, is it really a good PR move for Google to go ahead with such acquisition? Maybe; the problem is an HR/management one, which an acquisition in which upper management and HR are largely replaced and lower management is scrutinized under a microscope could probably resolve quickly to prevent any ongoing issues, and not keeping the Uber name in use would deal with most of the public image issues.
- LeoNatan25 9y ago
  It's not just a problem of upper management and HR. It sounds to me like a rotten culture from the bottom up. This is not the case at Alphabet (so far as I know), so what happens when a clash of cultures hits? Usually, people that can't adapt are fired or marginalized until replaced. In such a case, is the purchase of Uber worth it or necessary?
  - dragonwriter 9y ago
    > In such a case, is the purchase of Uber worth it or necessary? The platform and existing customer and (at least in the transitional phase) driver relationships are not without value, and there's probably IP value as well (and, if they've really built on stuff stolen from or encumbered I by patents owned by Google, it's potentially uniquely valuable to Google, compared to other buyers.) So, I mean, even an “acquifire” where none of the actual people employed by Uber are retained might be worthwhile, at the right price.
  - euyyn 9y ago
    > It sounds to me like a rotten culture from the bottom up. Anecdote, but the one engineer I know that works at Uber is an ex-Googler and got a 20 when rolling for kindness.
    - neolefty 9y ago
      On a 3D6?
giancarlostoro 9y ago
Was it a good step for Google to buy YouTube back when it was full of (way more) pirated music, movies and tv show episodes? I remember at least one article that questioned Google for buying YouTube back then, calling them out for the piracy.
- macspoofing 9y ago
  That's a good point. There was a lot of speculation that they were opening themselves up for major lawsuits.
- LeoNatan25 9y ago
  I see what you mean, but I don't think the two are comparable. Granted, my morals about copyright infringement are a lot looser than sexual impropriety.
  - giancarlostoro 9y ago
    The point being they've improved a LOT since the acquisition, and that they can do the same with Uber. I feel it's wrong to assume that Google wont do anything to fix up Uber if they do acquire them.
    - deleted 9y ago
      [deleted]
- bduerst 9y ago
  Not quite - the Youtube co-founders intentionally kept most of the piracy claims/problems under wraps until after the Google acquisition. Uber may have been trying to do the same with the sexual harassment, except now it's out in the open, pre-acquisition. https://www.forbes.com/2010/04/21/google-viacom-youtube-media-opinions-contributors-ronald-a-cass.html https://www.forbes.com/2010/04/21/google-viacom-youtube-medi...
  - giancarlostoro 9y ago
smsm42 9y ago
Why not? They are not complicit in this, and they can have legitimate claim to clean it up. And even some credit for the future, where they can treat new cases as "remnants from the old management". Of course, that credit will expire, but not immediately.

dragonwriter 9y ago

> With much of the sexual impropriety stories at Uber, is it really a good PR move for Google to go ahead with such acquisition? Maybe; the problem is an HR/management one, which an acquisition in which upper management and HR are largely replaced and lower management is scrutinized under a microscope could probably resolve quickly to prevent any ongoing issues, and not keeping the Uber name in use would deal with most of the public image issues.

LeoNatan25 9y ago
It's not just a problem of upper management and HR. It sounds to me like a rotten culture from the bottom up. This is not the case at Alphabet (so far as I know), so what happens when a clash of cultures hits? Usually, people that can't adapt are fired or marginalized until replaced. In such a case, is the purchase of Uber worth it or necessary?
- dragonwriter 9y ago
  > In such a case, is the purchase of Uber worth it or necessary? The platform and existing customer and (at least in the transitional phase) driver relationships are not without value, and there's probably IP value as well (and, if they've really built on stuff stolen from or encumbered I by patents owned by Google, it's potentially uniquely valuable to Google, compared to other buyers.) So, I mean, even an “acquifire” where none of the actual people employed by Uber are retained might be worthwhile, at the right price.
- euyyn 9y ago
  > It sounds to me like a rotten culture from the bottom up. Anecdote, but the one engineer I know that works at Uber is an ex-Googler and got a 20 when rolling for kindness.
  - neolefty 9y ago
    On a 3D6?

giancarlostoro 9y ago

Was it a good step for Google to buy YouTube back when it was full of (way more) pirated music, movies and tv show episodes? I remember at least one article that questioned Google for buying YouTube back then, calling them out for the piracy.

macspoofing 9y ago
That's a good point. There was a lot of speculation that they were opening themselves up for major lawsuits.
LeoNatan25 9y ago
I see what you mean, but I don't think the two are comparable. Granted, my morals about copyright infringement are a lot looser than sexual impropriety.
- giancarlostoro 9y ago
  The point being they've improved a LOT since the acquisition, and that they can do the same with Uber. I feel it's wrong to assume that Google wont do anything to fix up Uber if they do acquire them.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
bduerst 9y ago
Not quite - the Youtube co-founders intentionally kept most of the piracy claims/problems under wraps until after the Google acquisition. Uber may have been trying to do the same with the sexual harassment, except now it's out in the open, pre-acquisition. https://www.forbes.com/2010/04/21/google-viacom-youtube-media-opinions-contributors-ronald-a-cass.html https://www.forbes.com/2010/04/21/google-viacom-youtube-medi...
- giancarlostoro 9y ago

smsm42 9y ago

Why not? They are not complicit in this, and they can have legitimate claim to clean it up. And even some credit for the future, where they can treat new cases as "remnants from the old management". Of course, that credit will expire, but not immediately.