Om Malik on the Google FTC investigation:

> In Silicon Valley, we first fall in love with start-ups and their vision. Then a few years later when they are successful, we consider them to be geniuses. And when they become too powerful, they become evil. And after the too-powerful phase comes a swift fall from grace.

Malik says Google is in the third phase, I’d agree and I think this is a great outline. Hard though to apply to Apple. Yes Apple is not a startup, but Malik uses Microsoft as supporting evidence, so I think it is fair game to look at this theory in light of Apple.

Is Apple in phase two, and if so then you think it *will* become evil. However hasn’t Apple been in the second phase for at least a decade now?

Either way I think Malik is right that this is coming at the worst possible time for Google given their rivalry with Apple.