You did notice that all the complainants were gov't related, didn't you? And perhaps you missed this?
Happy customers
To be sure, Oracle has many satisfied customers, and it is not alone in aggressively pursuing such contracts. Government officials across the country note that other major technology companies are often just as likely to pursue high-pressure sales and licensing tactics.
One Oracle fan is Tony Herbert, deputy chief information officer for Montana's information technology services division. Herbert, who is pleased with his state's dealings with the company, said, "I guess I might put Oracle on the upside (of aggressive behavior), but I don't see them to be a great deal different."
But it's Oracle that is now bearing the brunt of the backlash in California and elsewhere.
Which simply supports what I said earlier about how ORCL is no different from their competitors...and why should they be held to a different standard?
The very article you sent me points out what I said. That the media is holding ORCL's feet to the fire for something that is typical of basic business practice. My only point is that ORCL is actually ahead of the game, ethically, because they offered to give the money back. That says loads more to anyone willing to do business than the original deal.
One thing I should note...I'm not opposed to your postings or the information therein. I am opposed to one sided reporting and reporting with a vendetta.
Being in the media, I have a healthy LACK of respect for journalists. A good friend of mine who does PR at a major news network tells me stories about how they manipulate and change quotes to get a point across that is diametrically opposed to what a person's stance may be. I have seen it done at a personal level.
In financial journalism, it is no different. These are guys who couldn't make it on Wall Street, so they write about it...but don't want to do the legwork that is required to put up a decent, well balanced story. So it's all hay and sunshine, or all doom and gloom. |
