Oracle confidential information released by court

PeopleSoft Craig Conway is testifying today, and most of the press is focusing on his colorful characterization of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison as "Genghis Khan."

But the real news, in my opinion, is some Oracle correspondence that was released by the court in an unredacted form, that is, without some confidential portions omitted. The memos in question can be interpreted as Oracle's attempt to use the takeover bid in an attempt to sow fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) among PeopleSoft prospects, thus hurting PeopleSoft in the marketplace.

According to CNET,

Mark Jarvis, Oracle's chief marketing officer, suggested in an internal June 3, 2003, e-mail that the company "use this news in order to create FUD with prospects and customers alike." FUD is a common term in the computer industry that describes a campaign to spread misinformation or exaggerations.
....
Another excerpt included in the PeopleSoft interrogatory and Oracle's reply was an e-mail message sent by Keven Blake to Oracle President Charles Phillips and others on Sept. 10, 2003. It said that "(we) have successfully spread enough FUD along with our own capabilities to have a good average shot at winning."

Read the whole CNET article for more excerpts.