Google Chairman Eric Schmidt Says Apple and Google Will Resolve Issues 'the Adult Way'

MacRumors · Dec 5, 2012, 08:27 AM

Google Executive Chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt recently sat down for a wide-ranging interview (subscription required) with The Wall Street Journal and in addressing his company's relationship with Apple noted that the two companies would resolve their issues like adults. He said that while explaining Apple and Google's relationship over the past year, which has included Apple taking Google Maps and YouTube out of iOS.

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It's always been on and off. Obviously, we would have preferred them to use our maps. They threw YouTube off the home screen [of iPhones and iPads]. I'm not quite sure why they did that.

The press would like to write the sort of teenage model of competition, which is, 'I have a gun, you have a gun, who shoots first?'

The adult way to run a business is to run it more like a country. They have disputes, yet they've actually been able to have huge trade with each other. They're not sending bombs at each other.

I think both Tim [Cook, Apple's CEO] and Larry [Page, Google's CEO], the sort of successors to Steve [Jobs] and me if you will, have an understanding of this state model. When they and their teams meet, they have just a long list of things to talk about.

Schmidt went on to note that Apple and Google talk about patent litigation and how Apple is currently embroiled in legal drama with Google's Android partners rather than Google itself. He also noted that the litigation would continue for "a while" and that the big loser is not Apple or Google, but a smaller company trying to get an operating system off the ground as they wouldn't have the necessary patent coverage.

Recently, Google updated its Search app to include its Siri competitor. Schmidt tells The Wall Street Journal that Google does, in fact, list Siri as an example of the future "non-conforming to the Web" competition. Google also has Safari-competitor Chrome available in the App Store and is reportedly moving closer to submitting Google Maps for iOS.

Article Link: Google Chairman Eric Schmidt Says Apple and Google Will Resolve Issues 'the Adult Way'

Allenbf · Dec 5, 2012, 08:29 AM

Theft is still theft, Eric.

JaySoul · Dec 5, 2012, 08:30 AM

1, 2, 3, 4 - I declare a thumb war.

charlituna · Dec 5, 2012, 03:54 PM

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Originally Posted by JaySoul

1, 2, 3, 4 - I declare a thumb war.

Thunderdome

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Originally Posted by notjustjay

*chug*

Doesn't make it any less true though.

Yes and no. apple licensed it from the developer. Google and its OEMs are being accused to copying without license

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Originally Posted by unlinked

Are you talking about the maps contract which reportedly had a year left on it when iOS 6 came out?

Misquote of the article. It actually said Apple knew a year before the contract was ending that they weren't going to renew. Not that iOS Maps came out with a year left in the contract

Think about it. If they cut the contract a year early they would have to pay anyway, either to get out of it or as a penalty for not upholding it. Why do that went they could wait another year to release a hopefully even better Maps.

It even fits with the kick off of the rumors that Apple was definitely about to release their maps, which started ramping up right after iOS 5 came out, about a year before. Folks would have been less likely to suggest such a thing unless they knew the contract was about to end.

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Originally Posted by JBunkers

Did Google bother to patent their "Notification center" idea?

Was it actually their idea. Could they have licensed from the same developer?

ECUpirate44 · Dec 5, 2012, 08:30 AM

"Just because we're competing doesn't mean we have to be rude"-SJ.

antonis · Dec 5, 2012, 08:33 AM

Schmidt: "I'm rubber, you're glue"
Cook: "That's it, 5 o'clock you and me at the parking"

iamgalactic · Dec 5, 2012, 08:36 AM

adult way = "thermonuclear war"...?

John.B · Dec 5, 2012, 08:40 AM

Does this man have an ethical bone in his body?

terryzx · Dec 5, 2012, 08:37 AM

Wouldn't it be nice if all these cell phone makers (etc) would get together and play nice and share ideas that we all could profit from while they also each make their own profits from utilizing each other's shared patients?

DrSkywalker · Dec 5, 2012, 01:26 PM

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Originally Posted by terryzx

Wouldn't it be nice if all these cell phone makers (etc) would get together and play nice and share ideas that we all could profit from while they also each make their own profits from utilizing each other's shared patients?

How about if you have a great and innovative idea that you want to profit from, you do so without having to worry about some @sshole stealing your ideas without your permission?

Apple is clearly in the right. If they wanted to gift it to the world (like Mercedes did with crumple zones), then great - but they should be under no obligation to do so.

bbeagle · Dec 5, 2012, 08:39 AM

Apple had a contract with Google. Contract ended. Apple didn't renew.

I think Google thought that Apple would 'come to their senses' - figure out that Maps and YouTube were needed, and renew at the 11th hour. Google bet all their chips that this would happen. It didn't. Google had to scramble, and is now blaming Apple for Google not having a backup plan.

Google has the best products, but they had a snobby attitude that Apple would continue to use their products. It bit them in the arse when Apple decided to compete with Google.

Now Eric Schmidt is trying to save face by spinning this.

unlinked · Dec 5, 2012, 08:44 AM

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