Recently, I read reports on Poynter that Google recently apologized for borrowing stealing it’s competitor’s database and using it in one of their search tools.

You can find out more about the story, HERE.

Victor has since left Sohu to pursue other (likely awesome) endeavours (find out more HERE). I recall his wife, Helen Qin, formerly the Managing Director for Dow Jones in China, was looking to go back to school at NYU in sports management given her interest to bring the NBA to China.

The release from Google (translated into English.. original HERE):

Google on Google and other Sohu users to input an apology

04/09/2007 11:24:00 morning.
Issued : Google (Google), a public relations spokesman

Google Pinyin input method in the laboratory release (April 4, 2007), We have received a lot of user feedback and suggestions particular, we note that the Google input thesaurus questioned In the pilot phase of the thesaurus does contain some non-Google data sources. We are willing to face up to their problems, such as Sohu said it apologized to customers.

Meanwhile, we immediately took action this week (April 8, 2007) at noon, We have completed a Google Pinyin input method releases the second update (version 1.0.17.0 input Google) spent two days to complete the re-escalation of a comprehensive thesaurus. Google thesaurus from the massive searchable database accumulated over the years produced tens of millions of entries. We welcome our customers with upgraded versions of the industry’s supervision.

Google itself, but also hopes to work with the industry to work together to improve the overall escalation of input methods, functional breakthrough in the long term. pragmatic and substantive work continuously to provide users with more and better application experience.

Finally, again indicated to the users, Sohu and other apology!

Translated via Google’s own translation tool HERE.