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Microsoft’s Sweet Vengeance: Google/Yahoo Deal Neutered by the Justice Department

Alex Castle — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:31:58 -0500

Yahoo just can’t seem to catch a break. The search site’s prospects are looking dimmer and dimmer as Yahoo and Google negotiate with the Justice department to try and head off a potential antitrust lawsuit stemming from their proposed advertising partnership. Several compromises are being discussed which would lessen the strategic value of the partnership for Yahoo.

The currently proposed concessions, according to the Wall Street Journal, “include capping the volume of Google ads Yahoo would use, assurances that Yahoo would continue to compete in search ads, and a reporting mechanism to ensure compliance… U.S. officials hope to impose measures that will ensure the prices advertisers must pay don’t rise significantly after the deal.”

According to Silicon Valley Insider, these compromises would leave the already down-in-the-mouth Yahoo in an even weaker position, cutting out much of the benefit they had hoped to gain from the ad partnership. They also suggest that Microsoft’s lobbyists are responsible for the Justice Department’s scrutiny of the deal, writing that “even if [Microsoft] doesn’t buy Yahoo, it gets the quiet pleasure of poking another stick at the carcass of a company that spurned it’s now extraordinarily generous buyout offer.”

Senators Call for Probe of Private Censorship

Erin Simon — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:32:51 -0500

After several telecommunications companies are revealed to be discriminating which content they'll transmit, two senators start the investigative ball rolling.

Lawsuits Target iPhone Bricking

Erin Simon — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:34:24 -0500

Consumer backlash goes litigious as two class actions are filed against Apple for disabling unlocked iPhones.

A La Carte Cable

Erin Simon — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:06:13 -0500

A plucky band of cable consumers tries to sue their way to not having to pay for stuff they don't want. How will this affect your cable bill? Stay tuned.

Premier Pretends to Patent Playlists

Erin Simon — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 21:10:21 -0500

A company has filed suit against a number of media and hardware producers alleging that they infringed its patent in the idea of putting music in a playlist. Really!

DoJ Pooh-Poohs Net Neutrality Regulations

Erin Simon — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 20:43:52 -0500

The DoJ Antitrust Division doesn't think net neutrality will help consumers, because we all know how competitive the telcom market is.