Shots fired! Google up next.

Feb 24, 2017 17 Comments

Well that didn't take long...

"We have reviewed Waymo’s claims and determined them to be a baseless attempt to slow down a competitor and we look forward to vigorously defending against them in court."

Can Uber put out fires on this many fronts at once? Not that there's much of a choice, I suppose. So, what happens next?

http://www.geekwire.com/2017/uber-calls-claims-of-stolen-self-driving-car-technology-from-google-spinout-waymo-a-baseless-attempt-to-slow-down-a-competitor/

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TOP 17 Comments
  • Amazon

    Go to company page Amazon

    Uber is done.
    Feb 24, 2017 3
    • Google / Eng
      var

      Go to company page Google Eng

      var
      Because a company valuation is determined by projecting the future, and self-driving business is the only competitive advantage Uber has
      Feb 24, 2017
    • Uber
      adn

      Go to company page Uber

      adn
      Uber is relying a lot in self driving car to become profitable.
      however the lawsuit is on the lidar technology which has yet to be used on Uber cars, so even if waymo's claims happened to be true (and I'm hoping for obvious reason they're not) it would mean the self driving business of Uber is done, neither would be Uber.

      I'm really hoping those claims are false, and I would feel really ashamed (and pissed off) if it happens that Otto used Google technology to build their lidar.
      Feb 26, 2017
  • Yelp / Eng
    bitter

    Go to company page Yelp Eng

    bitter
    What else did you think they were going to reply? "Oops got us!"? It will be settled in court and none of this back and forth before matters.
    Feb 24, 2017 4
    • OP
      From what I read, a vendor accidentally CC'd Google on Uber's Lidar chip design which the Google employee recognized as almost identical, hence the investigation began. And aren't there test rigs like the one used for the Otto demo out on the road? That's what I was referring to.
      Feb 26, 2017
    • Uber
      adn

      Go to company page Uber

      adn
      pretty sure from the look that during the demo it was velodyne lidar in used.
      Feb 26, 2017
  • Google / Eng
    El Goog

    Go to company page Google Eng

    El Goog
    They had no choice. If they admit guilt, people are going to jail. So they buy themselves some time this way. Maybe Levandowski flees to Costa Rica and buys a private army to protect himself.
    Feb 24, 2017 0
  • Uber
    zzxx

    Go to company page Uber

    zzxx
    With that level of details, I don't think Uber can get away. We're doomed!
    Feb 24, 2017 0
  • Groupon / Eng
    sleepy

    Go to company page Groupon Eng

    sleepy
    Google can license the technology and ask for compensation, the monetary amount won't be much as the technology hasn't earned them any money yet. Of course the penalty could be tripled if it is found wilful. If Google doesn't license it, then Uber has to do enough to circumvent the patents. It shouldn't be very tough given the nature of modern patents. Let's see ... I don't think this will affect their valuation by much!
    Feb 25, 2017 3
    • Groupon / Eng
      sleepy

      Go to company page Groupon Eng

      sleepy
      Google claimed theft from Bing also. Remember the fake keyword search?
      Feb 25, 2017
    • Google / Eng
      El Goog

      Go to company page Google Eng

      El Goog
      The Bing thing was different. They were using IE logs for analysis and didn't filter out Google's search results. This could be ignorance rather than malfeasance.

      In Otto's case, Waymo is alleging actual theft to a thumb drive. That is a conscious and illegal activity.
      Feb 26, 2017