Remember how Google sent Microsoft that cease and desist letter because Microsoft made a YouTube app, but cut out the ads? Well, Larry Page went on stage at Google I/O preaching about how being “negative is not how we make progress,” and “not every new technology is zero-sum.”

Microsoft threw those words back at Google today:

“In light of Larry Page’s comments today calling for more interoperability and less negativity, we look forward to solving this matter together for our mutual customers.”

This is my problem with Google in situations like this.

Google is forever preaching to users how they are not evil and how everyone should work together in harmony to make everyone happy. They stick to that mantra as they enter new markets, destroying the competition and sometimes even walking away when they get bored.

All’s fair to Google, and that’s fine.

However, as soon as another company messes with Google’s advertising, the company’s main revenue stream, then it’s a different story. Then the lawyers come out and the cease and desist letters start.

Google can’t have it both ways.