This is a bogus argument. Google is not the "messenger" any more than Microsoft is the victim (as they seem to be portraying themselves). Google is the accuser,

This is a bogus argument. Google is not the "messenger" any more than Microsoft is the victim (as they seem to be portraying themselves). Google is the accuser, and they have their motivations for bringing this to light. Microsoft is free to question Google's character or motivations as much as they want. The discussion I've seen here in HN and elsewhere doesn't seem to reflect the expectation Google probably had when they leaked this to a third party -- the universal "Microsoft sucks" reaction they might have safely garnered a few years ago. The "shoot the messenger" argument has its place, but this isn't it. In this context it just comes across as an emotional appeal biased against Microsoft. I don't think either party is innocent here.