Salesforce Pushes Regulators To Block Microsoft's LinkedIn Deal (cnn.com) 30
Salesforce is urging the European Union to take a closer look at Microsoft's takeover of LinkedIn as EU regulators ask questions on how the software giant could use AI to exploit data from LinkedIn's professionals. Chief Legal Officer Burke Norton said Salesforce plans to tell European and U.S. antitrust officials it has concerns about the acquisition. From a CNN report:"Microsoft's proposed acquisition of LinkedIn threatens the future of innovation and competition," Burke Norton, chief legal officer at Salesforce, said in a statement. "By gaining ownership of LinkedIn's unique dataset of over 450 million professionals in more than 200 countries, Microsoft will be able to deny competitors access to that data, and in doing so obtain an unfair competitive advantage. [...] We intend to work closely with regulators, lawmakers and other stakeholders to make the case that this merger is anticompetitive," he added. The European Commission is reaching out to multiple companies as part of a review of the pending acquisition. Salesforce's comments came in response to this, according to Chi Hea Cho, a spokeswoman for Salesforce.
they're just sore.. (Score:3, Insightful)
because they lost out on buying linkedin for themselves.
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Sour grape (Score:4, Funny)
Wa wa waaa (Score:1)
Translation: Microsoft is doing what we wanted to do. We should be the ones denying competitors access to data and reaping advantages from it.
Mhmm Sure... (Score:3, Insightful)
And this is why... (Score:4, Interesting)
...I'm not on LinkedIn.
By gaining ownership of LinkedIn's unique dataset of over 450 million professionals in more than 200 countries, Microsoft will be able to deny competitors access to that data, and in doing so obtain an unfair competitive advantage
That 'data' is the career info and personal details on millions of hopeful job seekers, and they'll use it for what, exactly? "Oh, looks like Johnson just got a raise, time to start throwing ads for luxury vehicles at him!" Or "Smith is on mat leave, start spamming her with childhood educational assistance program ads!"
I did sign up for an account once about a decade ago...and deleted it after about a week. The sheer volume of bullshit that I got spammed with was unbelievable. It took quite some time to stem the flow again (pretty much had to pretend I died for a couple of years...). For a service advertised as 'for professionals', they sure act anything but.
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I mean, LinkedIn can already do that, and gain a competitive advantage. On the other hand, Microsoft has a monopoly in one area and can use its money and brand to acquire another brand, acquire that data, acquire its attached contracts (LinkedIn members), and gain a competitive advantage in another area--which is abusive monopoly power.
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Who wants what out of LinkedIn (Score:5, Insightful)
SalesForce might actually want LinkedIn as a business unit.
However, I think MS is only in it for the user data, as with Skype and, to a degree, Mojang. MS is desperate to get user data like Apple and Google has. But MS has no idea how to build a community or connect with consumers, so they have to collect user data by either surreptitious means (Win10) or by buying it through business acquisitions.
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Don't forget that LinkedIn had just acquired Lynda.com, one of the biggest e-learning sites out there.
I am sure that MS is very interested in that property.
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Pretty sure they weathered ME just fine. That was what, 20 years ago now? lol
Everyone is missing the point... (Score:4, Interesting)
Microsoft, Salesforce and Oracle are competing for the next artificial intelligence (AI) system, which requires large data sets to train properly. LinkedIn and Twitter have large data sets.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/salesforce-joins-race-for-artificially-intelligent-business-software-1474241982 [wsj.com]
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Difference between MS and Salesforce re: LinkedIn (Score:2)
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Apple and MS seem to keep software they buy alive forever. Google kills its own software and purchased software regularly.
Regulators should ask one question (Score:2)
Seems like Salesforce are basing their opposition to the purchase on the fact that Microsoft won't share the data from LinkedIn to 3rd parties. The regulators should ask Salesforce if they will share the information. If yes then block the deal but make sharing the data a condition if Salesforce does buy LinkedIn. If they don't plan on sharing the data then tell Salesforce to get lost and send them a bill for time wasted.