Is Google's OpenSocial Really The Second Coming?

So the big news Thursday concerned Google's (GOOG) social networking initiative OpenSocial, a standard that will allow other social networking sites to basically adopt what Facebook's got. Of course, you have to sit up and take notice anytime a company launches a new offering, with buyin from the likes of MySpace, SixApart, Oracle (ORCL), Salesforce.com (CRM), and several others. Still, I'm not quite convinced that it's really the second coming.

First of all, I'll back up and say that I don't think Facebook is such a huge deal. I might regret writing that if it becomes the next Google, but oh well. Yes, I have a profile (feel free to add me if you're a reader of the blog), but there's really nothing to do there. It's a useful utility, though I was more blown away the first time I saw GMail. I take that back about there being nothing to do... it is a useful service for coordinating events.

Second, OpenSocial is being made out as though it's some sort of "surround Facebook" play, with all of these other sites ganging up on the leader. That's not quite it though. So a bunch of services are going to use the same technological standard, but will these networks actually start to talk with one another? If anything, this is good news for app developers, who (we're told) can now "write once" for all, but the game is to get users.

One other thought... Google says it's been working on this for a whole year with MySpace. Does this cast doubt on whether Google was ever seriously vying for a stake in Facebook? Also, were the non-MySpace participants kept in the dark about MySpace being involved? I ask because I saw this line on Marc Andreesen's blog, when he announced Ning's participation on Wednesday:

Where's MySpace?

Beats me.

So was that just a guise?

Comments

[Tom B:]

Facebook (as an investment) is for suckers, like Steve Ballmer. Open Social is an idea that almost can't fail; it solves the problem of which social network to join-- it won't matter so much anymore. It's like HTML-- suppose there were different incompatible "neighborhoods" on the web that you needed different browsers to get to. That's "kind of" what it's like now, with the various Web 2.0 sites.

2007 Nov 02 09:28 AM

[GRiddick:]

Google - Mike Tyson with a PhD

Good morning, Alpha

These Googlites are simply brilliant. They are the "baddest". They remind me of Mike Tyson in his prime ... only this time he has a PhD.

Microsoft cannot seem to out-maneuver them at any turn. Here, Microsoft pays a hefty premium for a small stake in Facebook, and Google has them both back-peddling around the ring before the end of Round One.
Don't you think the immediate availability of "OpenSocial" kind of takes the wind out of Facebook's sails as it prepares to announce its own advertising business model next week?

Google is undefeated ... and carries a powerful knockout punch, the likes of which we have never seen in this industry. Every move they make is feared. They are always moving and jabbing ... jabbing and moving. They hit you with an uppercut (strong stock price surge after their third quarter earnings are announced), follow that with a left hook (delivery of "OpenSocial" with all of powerful third parties already on board), and, before you catch your breath, they nail you with a powerful right to the chin (the Google phone plan).

Virtually every Google opponent ends up flat on their back on the canvas. Some never regain their former self-confidence, determination or pride.

But hasn't the Google arrogance and lawlessness started to wear thin ... both on consumers' minds and in the eyes of the investment community and the regulatory authorities? I think so. If not now, then soon. Let's hope I'm not wrong.

But Google doesn't think so. They seem to think they are anointed with a unique right to set their own laws and rules of conduct (business and social) ... both here in the U.S. and across the globe.

You see, Google has its own unique brand of "rape". They too, have tattoos painted on their face. And they'll bite your ear off in a flat second if you get too close to them.

Their entourage includes some of the brightest investment bankers, public relations specialists, and IP defense attorneys in our land. All as determined as the three amigos at the top of Google to snooker Internet users, business partners, and advertisers for every dime they claim to own.

And all supported financially by the largest group of self-serving advertisers, lawyers, and investment bankers on the planet ... bar none. Aren't you growing tired of these claims of "willful blindness" we hear virtually every day coming from the folks in Mountain View and their supporters? "We didn't know we were doing anything illegal, your honor."

Google has gained much of its prominence on the backs of other people's hard-earned properties that have been stolen. They are among the most notorious copyright infringers ("pirates") this country has ever seen. They are brilliant ... I'll give them that. But, they are also unethical at almost every turn ... they are arrogant, greedy, hypocritical, and deceptive ... AND illegal.

They routinely treat other people's property as their own. Not just with YouTube, but with many software and search functions within Google itself. They perpetuate "public domain" scams. They routinely ignore U.S. Copyright laws ... and subsidize willful copyright infringement at thousands of web sites around the world.

In countries where Copyright compliance is a joke (such as Brazil), Google reigns supreme.
I have studied the U.S. Copyright laws (both civil and criminal) closely now for over twelve years. The U.S. now claims to be requiring copyright "enforcement" enhancements in its trade negotiations with other countries in Asia, Europe, and South America. Who are we fooling here?

We don't enforce our own copyright laws fairly in this country. How do we expect Brazil, Russia, India and China (the "BRICs") to follow our lead? ... let alone the hundreds of other countries who are not nearly as close to the spotlight.
Read our criminal copyright laws. You'll see that Google has violated these laws at a rate over 5,000 times the volume (both in dollar volume and quantity of works infringed) as is required to receive the maximum criminal penalty of $1,000,000 per willful infringement and up to five years in jail.

Is the Department of Justice asleep at the wheel? Or, are they, too, simple afraid of being hit by the Google right cross?
Why aren't these laws being enforced? Why is this country leaving it up to the small companies (like my own) and individuals who produce over 85% of new and original copyrighted works to tackle Google and its growing army of IP attorneys and pirating web site partners worldwide?

Only three things stopped Mighty Mike in his prime:

1. His friends and wife told him they were sick of his shenanigans and were leaving him.
2. He couldn't control his own greed and arrogance ... let alone his temper.
3. We put him in jail for breaking the laws of this land.

Don't you think it's high time we consider some of the exact same type of remedies for mighty Google? I do!
I am sick and tired of suffering marketplace knockouts at their expense ... especially when their activities are both unethical and illegal.

We need a company we can all be proud of the carry this belt as "World Champion" of the Internet space.

Your thoughts?

George P. Riddick, III
Chairman/CEO
Imageline, Inc.
[e-mail]...

2007 Nov 02 12:42 PM

[ilikeprivacy:]

Google have become like Microsoft...

Lots of copying, not much innovation.

2007 Nov 04 06:44 AM

[bobbyd:]

This is most certainly a "very" big deal for small developers like me...apps.facebook.com/verb.../

Now how about you "seekingalpha" open up the walled garden and let a 1000 social nets bloom! ;)
bobbyd
gangsta of social love
verbdate.com

2007 Nov 05 12:29 PM

[bobbyd:]

This is most certainly a "very" big deal for small developers like me...apps.facebook.com/verb.../

Now how about you "seekingalpha" open up the walled garden and let a 1000 social nets bloom! ;)
bobbyd
gangsta of social love
verbdate.com

2007 Nov 05 12:29 PM