Competition arises in an industry between companies is very common. Especially if the company in dispute is a large-scale company, of course the effect will also greatly affect the performance of the company.
As experienced by 2 large technology companies namely #Google and Uber. For information, actually the relationship between the two companies can be said to run smoothly. However, because of the issue of data theft that led to Google's demands on Uber, the relationship between the two companies eventually heated up and even harmed each other.
Beginning of Cooperation
As a growing application-based digital company, Uber is certainly able to attract the attention of various other technology companies. Likewise with the Alphabet company which is the parent company of Google.
From there through Google Ventures (GV), which is a capital company owned by Alphabet, Google began working together through injection of funds of US $ 2.58 billion.
Another article: Google and Facebook Collaborate to Build the Fastest Underwater Cable Network in Asia Pacific
And apparently, the investment efforts made by the sweet fruit alphabet. About 3 years after investing, Alphabet gained multiple profits even reaching US $ 3.5 billion. This is the reason why, Google and Uber have a sweet background at first.
Data theft case
But after having close cooperation, suddenly a problem arises where there is an issue of data theft. This case was allegedly carried out by a former Google worker named Anthony Levandowski. He, who is one of Google's main technicians, left the company with 14,000 confidential Google files.
The data, then used by Anthony to build a new company, Otto is engaged in the development of self-driving truck transportation. Not long after, Otto actually changed hands namely changing the name to the property of the Uber company. The acquisition value of the company is also fairly high, reaching US $ 680 million.
After that, the problem grew even more when Uber entered the industrial realm that was being developed by Google. At that time, Uber first introduced self-driving car services in the United States. With the help of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, the automatic car project began in 2015.
On the other hand, Google, which also has a subsidiary specializing in self-driving cars, Waymo, felt cornered by its partners. To reply, the business step was taken by launching the car pooling feature on Google's Waze application.
For information, until now Uber is actually still very closely related to Google. Because, to run operations, Uber services still use services from the Google Map application. Even so, Waymo's lawsuit was related to the possibility of Google's data usage for the development of Uber's self-driving car features.
Incriminate Google
If reviewed again, in this case the more disadvantaged is Google. Because, with the huge investment value that has entered the Uber pocket, the practical demands of Waymo can harm Google indirectly.
Simply put, if Waymo's demands are won, Google will also indirectly receive losses due to investment funds. But on the other hand, if Waymo's demands fail, of course, it also gives a direct loss to the subsidiary of the alphabet.
"Anything that benefits Waymo will harm Google Ventures," said Stephen Diamond, associate professor of law at Santa Clara University.
Even as a result of the dispute, David Drummond, Google's senior vice president, from the board of directors of Uber resigned. David himself is part of the agreement that was achieved when Google Ventures disbursed investment funds for Uber in 2013.
On the other hand, Uber stated that the company was ready with the demands filed by Waymo. Uber was convinced that his party could win the case because he felt he did not violate the rules at all.
"We have reviewed Waymo's claims and determined them as baseless accusations that want to slow down competitors and we can't wait to fight them in court," Uber said.
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