George R

Bollywood and Hollywood Are Teaming Up for Growth

Hi Julia,

I love Indian "food".

I also read your articles regularly. I like your "style".

While I appreciate your optimism regarding India (and perhaps the other three components of the economically explosive BRICS ... that's Brazil, Russia, India, and China ... as well), I think any article on this subject that does not mention Intellectual Property rights and concerns falls short on the big picture ... both the opportunties and the problems.

Creative industries cannot thrive in economies where 8 out of 10 (or, realistically, even more!) copyrighted works are pirated rather than used under a reasonable licensing fee arrangement.

Piracy in the BRICS is actually growing in gross numbers, in spite of what these governments claim. It is simply a fact of life that the youth in these countries are NOT taught to respect intellectual property rights at any level of their education.

These hypocritcal worldwide standards have influenced the youth in this country as well. By and large, we are taught not to steal ... unless, of course that stealing pertains to movies, songs, digtial artwork, and photographs downloaded from the Internet.

But, at least we do hold people accountable if, and when, we catch them.

So, by and large, we in this country will respect the Indian Bollywood copyrights while India distibutes our Hollywood works under virtually no government sponsored sense of business integrity or legality.

Why do you think this country has gotten itself into this economic mess, Julia? We are weak-kneeed on the protection of American copyrights, and quick to look for the PR or business opportunties of producing a movie with cheap labor or making a cameo appearance every now and then.

"Food" for thought.

Keep up the dialogue.

George

George P. Riddick, III
Chairman/CEO
Imageline, Inc.

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What Should Jerry Do? My Advice to Yahoo

This was as good of an article as I have read in months, Tim. Thank you very much. I totally agree with practically everything you said.

I will elaborate on one particular thing you said, however. I firmly believe this "deal" may signal the end of Wall Street as we have known it for the past ten years or so. In my view, that would be wonderful news. Those "fat cats" are simply not able to "fix" technology deals like they used to ... as they do everything else.

They are simply not smart enough these days. People are sick and tired of their greedy ways.

The rocket scientists in the valley and in Redmond blow them away. Where would YOU rather work if given a choice?

Anyway, Yahoo is a "terrific" brand. They are in the top five in Sports, Jobs, Health, News, E-mail, Search, Photos, Small Business, local Newspapers and Directories, and many more areas too varied to mention.

People do not like Microsoft and do not in general see them representing true innovation. That will not get better under Ballmer in my view.

And probably even more important in the long run, people have finally noticed some of the "gray-line" business practices, infringment activities, and corporate ethics out there at Google.

They have preyed on people's apparent ignorance (or at least what
Google perceives as ignorance) for far too many years already.

If the Yahoo folks would simply put their collective heads down and start to work for their shareholders for a change (rather than seeming to be continously in a "scramble"), the results might surprise everyone. Even themselves!

What's wrong with organic growth and profits when you're in so many strong related markets, several of which could become the next Microsoft or Google "killer app"?

Thanks for writing this one, Tim!

George

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Why Do Time Warner and News Corp Want Yahoo?

Nice article, Julia.

I find all of this fascinating from my position as a small business owner and Internet addict.

I do disagree with one of things you said in your post, however. While I see AOL having lost its identity (and its perceived self confidence) on the global stage, I do not see this with Yahoo. I think you, the media, have been too hard on them. As I see it, they are the premium small to mid-size business and consumer brand in the entire Internet space. And their services in finance, real estate, e-mail, personals, and sports seem to have dominant market positions both here in the U.S., and elsewhere. I have been in branding for 25 years. The Yahoo brand is excellent. To me, it still stands for innovation and leadership in a still infant age industry.

Google, while its brand as a word oriented search product, is substantial, has confused the overall market with its investments in green technologies (wonderful industry, and mission, but why Google?), the cellular airwaves, Aerospace, chicken coops, healthcare, and basically everything else its rocket scientist executives can think of. I see the company VERY vulnerable though the Internet's next phase.

By and large, the Internet world's current power players have grown up not liking Microsoft. Microsoft stands for high prices, elitist attitudes, billionaire owners, software glitches, government influence, and a ton of other things that the masses simply do not care for and cannot relate to. I do not see that attitude changing anytime soon, as Ballmer appears to be somewhat arrogant in both his style and his approach towards partnering. He simply does not have the "presence" that Gates had, and still has, on the global stage. If nothing else, the folks from Redmond could absolutely ruin whatever reputation and/or momentum Yahoo has established in the small business, social networking, and higher end of the consumer channels.

My vote. An independent Yahoo, or a Yahoo combined with AOL, Softbank, Alibaba, or even MySpace, is the best thing for the overall market. As a consumer, and as a potential business partner to all of them, I firmly believe that more choice is better than limited choice, and we will all be better off in the next Internet phase with a third leg on this Microsoft and Google dominated stool.

Thanks for sharing your views with the rest of us.

George
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