James bumped up against the fact that regardless of what Google wants in terms of a free exchange of ideas internally, it's an American company and retaining staff under American employment law and the law of the state of California, among other states.

Once it became clear that what he said could be interpreted as creating a hostile work environment, the company's hands were basically tied on having to let him go. The alternative would have been much worse for the bottom line. And the subsequent lawsuits and dismissals have made it basically clear that he had no legal leg to stand on.