Move over cola wars, it looks like Google and Microsoft's counter attacks on each other are the latest ones to create online and offline buzz.
A day after Microsoft
took its Scroogled campaign beyond the online world, offering merchandise such as mugs, caps, T-shirts and hoodies, with an anti-Google message, on its online store, Google responded with a short yet witty reply, saying:
"Microsoft's latest venture comes as no surprise; competition in the wearables space is really heating up."
The response was published by the
LA Times. Google's response in a way derides Microsoft for not talking about innovation or products, and attempts to take the high-ground, laughing off Microsoft's attempts to attack it directly with anti-Google merchandise.
After putting up anti-Google merchandise for sale on its online store, Microsoft also published a blog post, informing that the Scroogled gear was a new way for people to express themselves and their misgivings about Google. The merchandise features the Scroogled logo in Google colours or a Chrome logo with hate messages for Google. A mug, for instance, bears the message, 'Keep calm while we steal your data.'
"This (the Scroogled campaign) has struck a chord. Millions of people have visited Scroogled.com and hundreds of thousands have signed the petitions to tell Google to stop violating their privacy. Now, there's a new way for people to express themselves and their misgivings about Google - with Scroogled gear from the brand new Scroogled Store," said the Redmond giant, in the blog post.
Microsoft
started the Scroogled campaign in April through which it started attacking Google with a series of ad campaigns. The ads, which have appeared online, on television and in print, depict Google as a duplicitous company more interested in increasing profits and power than protecting people's privacy and providing unbiased search results.