“There’s confusion – way too much confusion – about my status at TechCrunch and TechCrunch’s status at Aol after last week’s announcement that I was launching a venture fund, partially backed by Aol. The multiple conflicting statements made by Aol on Thursday and Friday of last week are evidence of that confusion, but that isn’t the core issue. My employment relationship with TechCrunch and Aol is not the core issue. The only issue being discussed at this point, the only issue that matters, is TechCrunch editorial independence and self determination. Regardless of my role, if any, going forward. I believe that Aol should be held to their promise when they acquired us to give TechCrunch complete editorial independence.” I honestly don’t care about TechCrunch all that much (more ads, Siegler, and nonsense than actual content), but still – raise your hand if you’re surprised by this. AOL is pure, concentrated evil.
So they sold out to AOL, and how they’re pissed because they have to do what daddy tells them? WTF did they expect? have they never heard of Nullsoft?
R.I.P NullSoft they were so wonderful ….
This is the same Michael Arrington and the same TechCrunch that got burned by fusion garage while developing the crunchpad, right? The crunchpad episode sort of revealed quite a bit of negligence on his part with the legal aspects of joint product development. While he may have been promised total editorial independence, did he get that in any legally binding document? i’m guessing by that post, that he didn’t.
If I were a startup, I’d actually be rather excited to be a part of the crunchFund. Who knows, if Arrington’s involved with the legal side of things, I might not even have to give up any thing of value for the cash.
Who’s that? What do they do?
it doesn’t exist. Sure, a verbal agreement is as legally binding as a written one. The only problem is the proof…
The (not so) might AOL posses a unique power: the inverse Midas Touch. Every single thing that AOL put his finger turns into poo.
The portfolio of rather successful start-ups that AOL destroyed after a buyout is appalling.
The sole thing keeping this company afloat is not even luck anymore, its plain divine intervention.
financial, drug, and cell phone companies are evil. aol is just a stupid publisher
RE: LMAO (screwed up reply)
yeah things worked out great for both parties when AOL bought Nullsoft I’m sure this will go just as well
Edited 2011-09-07 12:10 UTC
wow, writer sweatshop.
Game producing sweatshops.
World of warcraft gold mining sweatshops.
Capitalism like it is, is an enormous fail.
…just 5 minutes to watch a show then review…
at least we’ll get no spoilers.
Edited 2011-09-07 22:15 UTC