I wrote about GooTube (the term coined for the Google & YouTube merger) a little while back and how I didn't really "get it" from a corporate perspective.

The Sydney Morning Herald had an article just recently about the same subject, but from a different perspective that I hadn't considered. Basically they say that Google's attitude is that it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. In other words, do it and let the lawyers sort it out.

Apparently the market seems to agree with this attitude as Google shares rose over the last month (when rumours started surfacing) from about US$400 to around the US$480 mark (a 20% increase!).

Kind of scary but I don't suppose there's any other way to push the boundaries is there? Then again I don't see Apple doing the same thing (at least not as blatantly), or Oracle, or IBM, or Netscape, or Sun, or Nintendo, or Sony, or a bunch of others. The only one I can think of who acts like that is Microsoft, and they seem to be improving their attitude and behaviour over time.

Microsoft behaved/s the way they do because they're a monopoly. A monopoly of the desktop and the office suite. I sure hope Google isn't starting to behave the way they seem to be because they're a monopoly of search and internet advertising.

Like all big companies there's plenty to like, but also plenty to improve on. On the GooTube thing - for now I'll hold my judgement.