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# On Scroogled and Hypocrisy
- URL: https://www.philsimon.com/on-scroogled-and-hypocrisy/
- Published: 2012-12-19T13:55:20.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-18T15:14:18.000Z
- Description: Microsoft's latest PR moves smack of desperation.
- Author: Phil Simon
- Tags: Platforms, Strategy, Google, Microsoft, The Age of the Platform

Microsoft has taken to "educating" consumers on [Google's holiday search practices](https://www.cnn.com/2012/11/28/tech/web/bing-scroogled/index.html?ref=philsimon.com#cnn-disqus-area). Yes, there's even a [website](https://www.scroogled.com/?ref=philsimon.com) devoted to this "public service." Microsoft is trying to bill itself as the voice of the uninformed masses. In this fictional world, Bing provides true, unfettered, pure results.

This is just lame. Microsoft can't beat Google at search. Rather than admit to defeat, it results in this futile effort. It smacks of desperation. Separately, [its head of search is on Twitter claiming that the FTC ought to do more](https://twitter.com/stefanweitz/status/280809115679346688?ref=philsimon.com) to combat Google's monopolistic practices.

Ironic? You bet. Remember 10 years ago when the company was clamoring for the free market? Windows wasn't a monopoly? Bundling Windows with IE was perfectly legal?

Something tells me that if Microsoft wasn't so late to understand the importance of search, it would be singing a very different tune. But, of course, if things were different, then they wouldn't be the same.

[Platform Myth #1Thoughts on development tools, communities, APIs, and SDKs.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/icon/newlogo-2-133.png)Phil SimonPhil Simon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8f/b5/8fb5e321-49a6-4cf5-8a28-c6f6d5417e54/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1621440318464-72633426377b)](https://www.philsimon.com/platform-myth-1/)

## Simon Says

To Balmer and company, here's a free piece of advice: focus on building a better mousetrap, and consumers may start coming to you. Scroogled makes you look desperate.