Google considered coordinated, multinational hostile takeover attempt of Epic
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Re: Google considered coordinated, multinational hostile takeover attempt of Epic
#2From [0]
> "Google recognized that Epic might not accept its offer. 'As a potential alternative', a senior Google executive proposed that Google 'consider approaching Tencent,' a company that owns a minority stake in Epic, 'to either (a) buy Epic shares from Tencent to get more control over Epic', or '(b) join up with Tencent to buy 100% of Epic,'" the complaint said.
So for Google to control Epic and perhaps protect themselves in the anti-trust complaints, they wanted to buy up shares from Tencent or team up with them to buy Epic out 100%, with the goal to stop them from complaining about their monopolistic behaviours in the Play Store.
Now that's one way of showing your true nature, since they know they will lose anyway.
Regardless, absolutely vicious creatures.
[0] https://www.protocol.com/bulletins/google-tencent-epic-games...
Re: Google considered coordinated, multinational hostile takeover attempt of Epic
#3Imagine the data this would yield: millions and millions of desktop applications with chat logs, hardware specs, usage patterns, social graphs, anti cheat that monitors everything, even more spending habits, the developer ecosystem and any monitoring that goes with that…
Re: Google considered coordinated, multinational hostile takeover attempt of Epic
#4From [0] > "Google recognized that Epic might not accept its offer. 'As a potential alternative', a senior Google executive proposed that Google 'consider approaching Tencent,' a company that owns a minority stake in Epic, 'to either (a) buy Epic shares from Tencent to get more control over Epic', or '(b) join up with Tencent to buy 100% of Epic,'" the complaint said. So for Google to control Epic and perhaps protect…
What makes you so sure that Epic will win?
Re: Google considered coordinated, multinational hostile takeover attempt of Epic
#5From [0] > "Google recognized that Epic might not accept its offer. 'As a potential alternative', a senior Google executive proposed that Google 'consider approaching Tencent,' a company that owns a minority stake in Epic, 'to either (a) buy Epic shares from Tencent to get more control over Epic', or '(b) join up with Tencent to buy 100% of Epic,'" the complaint said. So for Google to control Epic and perhaps protect…
What makes you so sure that Epic will win?
Google's behavior signals pessimism.
Re: Google considered coordinated, multinational hostile takeover attempt of Epic
#6So this is interesting, because yesterday some bloke had a thread on HN around how his FAANG mates are of the subpar IQ sort and he wasn't happy with that arrangement.
So then, which cabal in Google would be responsible for coordinating a multinational hostile takeover attempt, and how many standard deviations are we talking about here? Do they have a department to themselves? "Mergers, Acquisitions & Hostile Takeovers." Has a nice ring to it. I wonder if the lad should apply for a transfer.
Re: Google considered coordinated, multinational hostile takeover attempt of Epic
#7From [0] > "Google recognized that Epic might not accept its offer. 'As a potential alternative', a senior Google executive proposed that Google 'consider approaching Tencent,' a company that owns a minority stake in Epic, 'to either (a) buy Epic shares from Tencent to get more control over Epic', or '(b) join up with Tencent to buy 100% of Epic,'" the complaint said. So for Google to control Epic and perhaps protect…
What makes you so sure that Epic will win?
> Dubbed the Open App Markets Act, it would let you install apps from places other than Apple's App Store or Google's Play Store, which both come pre-installed on iPhones and Androids, respectively.
> The industry calls that sideloading, and if it's allowed, would mark a turning point in the companies' iron grip on how people access apps and use their phones.
https://www.businessinsider.com/google-apple-app-store-downl...
Re: Google considered coordinated, multinational hostile takeover attempt of Epic
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
What makes you so sure that Epic will win?
> Dubbed the Open App Markets Act, it would let you install apps from places other than Apple's App Store or Google's Play Store, which both come pre-installed on iPhones and Androids, respectively. > The industry calls that sideloading, and if it's allowed, would mark a turning point in the companies' iron grip on how people access apps and use their phones. https://www.businessinsider.com/google-apple-app-store-dow…
Android already allows sideloading.
Epic's lawsuit against Google is about the Play Store being an all or nothing affair. If you want in the play store you use their IAPs, or you do what Epic has done and make your users sideload and deal with the extra tech support and discoverability challenges that presents. Epic want to be in the store but not use Google's IAPs.
This is a bit different from the listed act and the complaint against Apple where you're just now allowed on iDevices without complying
Re: Google considered coordinated, multinational hostile takeover attempt of Epic
#9The title of this seems... precarious. Wouldn't a better title be something along the lines of...
> Epic alleges Google considered [a] coordinated, multinational, hostile takeover attempt [of their business]
... given legal proceedings seem to be on-going?
Also, from TFA:
> In a statement, a Google spokesperson said, "As we have stated previously, Epic's lawsuit is baseless and mischaracterizes our business conversations. Android provides more choices in mobile devices for developers and consumers."
(@dang, not urgent, but thoughts?)
Re: Google considered coordinated, multinational hostile takeover attempt of Epic
#10Imagine the data this would yield: millions and millions of desktop applications with chat logs, hardware specs, usage patterns, social graphs, anti cheat that monitors everything, even more spending habits, the developer ecosystem and any monitoring that goes with that…
don't they already get most of that with Chrome already?