Microsoft Defector Gagged
| posted by Fast Company staffKai-fu Lee, the former Microsoft executive, is heading to Google to help launch a research center in China. Only he's barred from working, consulting or even chatting around the watercooler about search and language technologies. That or anything else he picked up at Microsoft.
The drawn out court battle leading to yesterday's decision -- not quite the restraining order Microsoft sought -- is part of a growing turf war with Google. But, given Lee's profile in China, could it also be a high-priced public service ad for intellectual property rights in the Chinese market?
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Recent Comments | 2 Total
September 15, 2005 at 9:15am
roger fultonironic..and we thought China was repressive.
September 15, 2005 at 5:35pm
Angus LotenTrue. Though Gates himself is a popular figure in China, his company is seen as something of a goon. Last year, a Chinese Fortune-style magazine ranked Microsoft as the third most-admired company, behind IBM. Some half dozen local execs have fled to jobs elsewhere. Little wonder. Throughout his testimony, Lee referred to a tell-all book by Jack Gao, the former president of Microsoft China, who described the company as "stubborn and too bullying," and having "moved their manners in the U.S." to China. Despite this week's ruling, Microsoft is doggedly pursuing Lee in a lawsuit this January.