The Leadership Letter

Real correspondence from the people running real companies — and what it reveals about leadership.

What You Won't Put In Writing Tells You Everything

If you can't publish the terms, don't pretend they're standard — say plainly that this deal is bespoke.

Jamie Rosenberg (Aug 27, 2013): "I did read this and still have the same concerns vis-a-vis the contract."

Purnima Kochikar (Aug 22, 2013, forwarded): "I also like your approach of telling WSJ that we are doing something so special that we cannot put in writing; unfortunately, exec handshakes don't always help with day to day partner management. Documented lists do."

Jamie Rosenberg (Aug 22, 2013): "There are at least three things in here that I would definitely not want to be public and that wouldn't apply to every partner: 1. That we feel we need to 'pay' for G+ integration. 2. That we would agree not to promote competitive apps in the category during the promotion period. 3. That we feel we need to 'pay' for use of our billing system. We position this as an expectation, with exceptions. Rather than saying we can put this in writing because these are a set of terms we'd gladly publish and make available to any partner — which I don't think is true — I would rather tell WSJ that we *can't* put this in writing exactly because we are doing something for them that we would NOT make available to all partners."

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Court Exhibit
In re Google Play Store Antitrust Litigation (Epic v. Google)
3:21-md-02981 (CAND), Doc. 886-63, filed 2023-12-21
August 27, 2013
Public domain
View the primary source →