Microsoft & Facebook No Longer Friends After Employee Poaching Accusations

Kara Swisher reports Microsoft is considering taking legal action against Facebook for allegedly poaching their employees.

Facebook recently hired Microsoft’s global ad sales head Carolyn Everson. That sparked a deeper look at how Facebook may be going after Microsoft’s talent. And Microsoft may potentially use legal action to prevent Everson from working at Facebook. It wouldn’t be the first time Microsoft used legal measures to prevent former employees from working at other companies.

“Microsoft was one of our earliest partners and is still one of our most valued,” Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO said, in part. “We look forward to continuing to expand our relationship with them.”

Yes, Microsoft and Facebook have a long and friendly history. In 2007, Microsoft invested $240 million in Facebook. A year ago, Facebook extended their search deal with Microsoft Bing. And Facebook has given Microsoft Bing access to Facebook likes for bettering the Bing search results.

It will be interesting to see how this new concern between Microsoft and Facebook impacts their relationship in the future.

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