Plurk’s official response to Microsoft’s apology
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Plurk’s official response to Microsoft’s apology
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Re: Plurk’s official response to Microsoft’s apology
#2Not good.
First of all, sending out a press release saying that you are still considering all your options is a bit silly. "We're thinking about it" isn't really news.
But more importantly, that fact that they are still considering legal options is a bad sign. The fact that Microsoft responded with a quick and unequivocal apology bought them a lot of good will. Even if Plurk were to succeed in a lawsuit, it will be a big distraction and might possibly hurt the brand.
If I were in Plurk's shoes, I'd be sitting down with the Microsoft China folks to discuss acquisition/partnership. Clearly Plurk has something Microsoft wants, and now might be the best time to get them to pay for it. But you're not going to do that by holding the threat of a lawsuit over their heads.
Re: Plurk’s official response to Microsoft’s apology
#3Even I, as a co-founder of Plurk, have to write this press release myself.
You poor dear. Look guys, quit while you're ahead. Everyone knows you are not going to sue Microsoft because the legal fees would be bigger than your market cap.
The smart thing would be to take this down and say only that you're 'discussing it with them. Let MS takes you out on a date and give them some room to make it up to you. Sometimes the best negotiation strategy is to keep your mouth shut and let the other side do all the talking. This missive sounds petulant.
Re: Plurk’s official response to Microsoft’s apology
#4hah these guys are burning through their sympathy pretty damn quickly.
Re: Plurk’s official response to Microsoft’s apology
#5What an idiotic statement. A judge would look at the actual damages; launching the site for an extremely short time in a country that they are not allowed to operate in just couldn't have caused them much actual financial damage.
How much are the actual damages? Zero (what seems likely without more information) times whatever punitive multiplier you can think of isn't much at all.
I'd say they fully deserve to lose a legal battle that drains tons of money, so that MS can buy their then nearly-bankrupt company for pennies on the dollar, if they aren't smart enough to drop it when they have already benefited from the situation.
Re: Plurk’s official response to Microsoft’s apology
#6This isn't a smart move at all.
I can empathize with his "pain"; and it certainly leaves a bad taste to let this just slide straight off.
But the problem is I think that there are considerations: such as the fact it was ripped off by a Chinese contractor (which as has already been discussed at length, is something not uncommon), the fact that Microsoft obviously screwed up - but dont appear to have done this maliciously.
If anything I would approach it with discussions to license to code; MS now have a user base in a market that Plurk is banned. That is commercially viable for both parties.
Re: Plurk’s official response to Microsoft’s apology
#7...right. They're too poor to afford a copyeditor for their press releases (freelancers do this for cheap), but they're gonna sue Microsoft?
This has just gotten embarrassing now.
Re: Plurk’s official response to Microsoft’s apology
#8I've got the feeling that this is going to be one of those David vs Goliath battles where Goliath breaks the neck of David after five seconds without breaking a sweat and then everyone goes home with a sad face.
Re: Plurk’s official response to Microsoft’s apology
#9They should consider paying Microsoft instead, for the free marketing they received. I had all but forgotten about Plurk before this, and for many people, this incident might be the first time they heard about Plurk.
Re: Plurk’s official response to Microsoft’s apology
#10hah these guys are burning through their sympathy pretty damn quickly.
It's a bit of a train wreck. They're snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.