Google's immature reaction

Google won't speak to anyone from CNET for a year as reported by SiliconBeat. Why? Because CNET dared to use Google to find out info about CEO Eric Schmidt for a story on privacy.

Firstly, the fact that a PUBLIC company, i.e. one owned by share holders, feels that it can tell a news organization that it won't have anything to do with them for 12 months is plain ridiculous. It's like telling the share holders that they don't want them to know what's going on in the company.

Secondly, any company worth its salt must be prepared for both good and less flattering coverage from the media. You can't pick and choose, especially not if you've gained as much from the media as Google has. Get over it.

I agree with Battelle that the CNET story wasn't flawless, but it sure isn't a hack job either.

I'm truly sorry to see Google act this way. Maybe they really are just one of the big corporations now, despite its "do no evil" mantra. Hopefully we'll see a more mature comment on all of this from them soon.