4 ms·

The lawyers did such a bad job. They bungled the litigation. Now it seems like they have endorsed a strategic option (settlement) that was way too risk averse.

The lawyers did such a bad job. They bungled the litigation. Now it seems like they have endorsed a strategic option (settlement) that was way too risk averse. Alphabet had already won the PR war. They had alot to gain by grinding Uber into the dirt. Now Alphabet comes off looking like a paper tiger for a settlement that requires Uber to do very well to have any value. Let's not forget they are a major shareholder in Lyft. I can imagine that Larry Page must not be very happy right now.

dragonwriter 9y ago
> Now Alphabet comes off looking like a paper tiger for a settlement that requires Uber to do very well to have any value. The value of the settlement for Alphabet is not in the stock, it is in the “agreement to ensure that any Waymo confidential information is not being incorporated in Uber Advanced Technologies Group hardware and software.” Of course, the details of that aren't going to be shared, but that's the thing matters. > Let's not forget they are a major shareholder in Lyft. Are they? I know GV has a significant stake in Uber, and Waymo has a cooperative deal with Lyft, but I don't recall Alphabet or any of it's subsidiaries holding a big share of Lyft. Edit: as pointed out in the response, Alphabet is invested in Lyft through CapitalG.
- jy1 9y ago
  https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/19/16503742/lyft-capitalg-google-fundraising-venture-billion https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/19/16503742/lyft-capitalg-g...
- siruncledrew 9y ago
  I'm not sure how much I would trust any promise from Uber to not continue to use technology they already have, even if it was stolen. Uber doesn't seem the company to just say "Ok" and delete the information that wasn't theirs. I would be skeptical a lot of under the table development is still in action, but with a better mindset of not getting caught in place.
  - thanksgiving 9y ago
    I'd imagine Uber's consent to not use waymo trade secrets comes with Uber agreeing that the points in contention are waymo trade secrets. Doesn't that mean waymo has a very good standing if Uber were to use these trade secrets? I mean this is better than a patent because a trade secret will never expire in perpetuity, right? I also imagine this extends to anyone acting on Uber's behalf?
    - dragonwriter 9y ago
      I'd imagine that the commitment to Uber and Waymo working together to assure that Waymo trade secrets are not used that is referenced in the settlement announcement involves more than Uber promising and Waymo accepting assurances at a distance.

dragonwriter 9y ago

> Now Alphabet comes off looking like a paper tiger for a settlement that requires Uber to do very well to have any value. The value of the settlement for Alphabet is not in the stock, it is in the “agreement to ensure that any Waymo confidential information is not being incorporated in Uber Advanced Technologies Group hardware and software.” Of course, the details of that aren't going to be shared, but that's the thing matters. > Let's not forget they are a major shareholder in Lyft. Are they? I know GV has a significant stake in Uber, and Waymo has a cooperative deal with Lyft, but I don't recall Alphabet or any of it's subsidiaries holding a big share of Lyft. Edit: as pointed out in the response, Alphabet is invested in Lyft through CapitalG.

jy1 9y ago
https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/19/16503742/lyft-capitalg-google-fundraising-venture-billion https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/19/16503742/lyft-capitalg-g...
siruncledrew 9y ago
I'm not sure how much I would trust any promise from Uber to not continue to use technology they already have, even if it was stolen. Uber doesn't seem the company to just say "Ok" and delete the information that wasn't theirs. I would be skeptical a lot of under the table development is still in action, but with a better mindset of not getting caught in place.
- thanksgiving 9y ago
  I'd imagine Uber's consent to not use waymo trade secrets comes with Uber agreeing that the points in contention are waymo trade secrets. Doesn't that mean waymo has a very good standing if Uber were to use these trade secrets? I mean this is better than a patent because a trade secret will never expire in perpetuity, right? I also imagine this extends to anyone acting on Uber's behalf?
  - dragonwriter 9y ago
    I'd imagine that the commitment to Uber and Waymo working together to assure that Waymo trade secrets are not used that is referenced in the settlement announcement involves more than Uber promising and Waymo accepting assurances at a distance.