Oracle: let's all play fair

Yesterday evening, Vinnie Mirchandani, Frank Scavo and I had an email exchange about an interesting 'incident.' Responding to this post from Vinnie about Rimini Street and its offering for SAP customers, 'Rodrigo' said:

Vinnie: Why you have not mentioned a single word about the lawsuit that Oracle filed against Rimini Street? Suddenly you decided to mute about this topic that you have always commented on promptly. Regards

The minute you see a comment like that you just know there's a rat somewhere. Vinnie's response:

Rodrigo or whoever you really are - I did post promptly see below.

http://dealarchitect.typepad.com/deal_architect/2010/01/why-the-software-industry-needs-a-j1962.html

I am waiting from Rimini's legal response to report more.

And btw, I also defended Charles when others were crucifying him -

http://dealarchitect.typepad.com/deal_architect/2010/01/my-friend-charles.html

and to close the loop I also warned customers what is coming next with Oracle's expanded vision with Sun

http://dealarchitect.typepad.com/deal_architect/2010/01/oracles-new-deal.html

so, yes, I will continue to call it as I see it. Tough, but fair.

I hope you join the conversation - openly.

BTW. I checked the IP address you posted from. It is from Oracle. At least have the decency to use your real name. Usually, I don't allow anonymous commands, but since you used a false email also, this is the only way I can communicate with you.

It is not without reason that Oracle is regarded by some as one of the toughest, if not the toughest player in the enterprise software market. But it's coming to something when not only do they pour millions of dollars into the coffers of pliant analysts in an effort to 'influence' market perceptions. Or more recently engage lawyers as their prime competitive defense strategy. It now seems they have employees too cowardly to openly express an opinion but willing nonetheless to bait those of us who comment on such matters. Perhaps I'm being unfair on the last one. Maybe there is an ethics clause along the lines of Google's 'Do No Evil' mantra in employee contracts. If there is then someone from Oracle will surely let me know.

Frank was a lot more sanguine. He opined that: "It could be some low level flak in AR, or even a grunt in some obscure services group or something. Doesn’t mean it is necessarily a concerted effort by Oracle to try to promote coverage of the lawsuit. If it were, I would expect a more “professional” effort, with a full court press to multiple bloggers.

It was a ham fisted effort given that Vinnie emailed me an image that shows Rodrigo attempted to post pretty much the same comment twice. Or that Vinnie could easily track down said person's location. Perhaps he (or she) was getting a tad impatient. Maybe Rodrigo couldn't escape Redwood towers to find a Starbucks with free wifi? But then I've come to expect such things. Only last week joeblow345@hotmail.com (that's not the address but just to give you an idea) sent me an email looking for SAP specific competitive market intelligence. Sure dude - have it all (not)! There's plenty more from that locker room.

The only burning question that remains is whether Larry Ellison, Oracle's CEO will hunt down Rodrigo and give him (or her) a bonus for their influencer efforts.

The racing certainty is neither Vinnie nor I expect to be on Larry's Christmas card list.