WebProNews

Because in California, there is no such thing as a noncompete clause. Reports began flying last night that Google plucked NBC Universal general manager of strategic ventures Michael Steib to head up a to-be-created online video unit.

Paid Content's Rafat Ali got the scoop late last night that Steib, who launched NBC's online video unit, NBBC, earlier this fall, would join Google to "work with advertisers to create effective, measurable video advertising."

Steib has no official title, or official position yet, but it is assumed he'll be working under Google's advertising sales vice president.

Google has a history of snatching up the brightest talent around. In 2005, Google grabbed search guru Kai-Fu Lee from Microsoft and made him the head of Google China.

Yahoo and other companies have complained in the past that Google also drains all of the hottest talent from the universities as well.

Because Google has this history of swallowing up US talent, other search engines have had to look overseas to find comparable abilities.

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Jason L. Miller is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.