Oracle vs. Microsoft: Corporate Espionage or Competitive Intelligence?

world’s second largest software manufacturer, admitted that the company hired a private investigative firm, Investigative Group International (IGI), to probe two private public policy research organizations that supported the world’s number one software firm, Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington, during the recent landmark antitrust trial initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice. Oracle hired IGI, a firm headed by former Senate Watergate attorney Terry Lenzner, to gather information on whether Microsoft financially supported the Independent Institute and the National Taxpayers Union, both of which were releasing independent research supportive of Microsoft’s position during the antitrust trial. IGI ‘‘conducts confidential fact-finding around the world for corporations, law firms, financial institutions, public agencies, and private individuals.’’ 1 ‘‘Left undisclosed, these Microsoft front groups could have improperly influenced the outcome of one of the most important cases in U.S. history,’’ said Oracle in a statement. 2 ‘‘It’s absolutely true we set out to expose Microsoft’s covert activities,’’ said Larry Ellison, Oracle’s chief executive officer. 3 According to Ellison, the Independent Institute and the National Taxpayers Union made it appear that it would be best for American taxpayers if Microsoft won the antitrust trial. 4 ‘‘These experts were bought and paid for by Microsoft, by two taxpayers, Bill Gates and Steve Balmer,’’ stated Ellison. 5 ‘‘I feel very good about what we did,’’ said Ellison. 6 Oracle’s