Google Faces FTC Antitrust Investigation

It lines up 12 companies ahead of possible antitrust suit

(NEWSER) - Busy times for Google, even beyond its social networking push :

• Lobbyist blitz: The company is apparently taking a potential antitrust investigation by the FTC very seriously, reports the Hill : Google is hiring no fewer than 12 top lobbying firms to make its case to lawmakers. “We have a strong story to tell about our business and we’ve sought out the best talent we can find to help tell it,” says a spokesperson.

FTC awaiting Justice Department move

(NEWSER) - Google could soon be the target of a federal antitrust probe. Officials with the Federal Trade Commission will hold off on a decision until after the Justice Department determines whether or not it will attempt to block Google’s planned acquisition of ITA Software Inc., sources tell Bloomberg . That purchase has been challenged by rivals as a threat to competition in the travel search business. If the FTC launches a probe, Google "could fight, but that's going to cost a lot of time and money," said an antitrust law professor. More»

Antitrust investigation focuses on Google's settlement with publishers

(NEWSER) - Justice Department investigators have intensified their probe into a deal Google made with publishers last year to put millions of books online, the Wall Street Journal reports. Publishers have been formally asked to provide information relating to the deal, which critics charge violates antitrust laws by giving Google an effective monopoly over "orphan text," for which the copyright holders are unknown or cannot be found. More»

Efficiencies outweigh anti-competition issues, giant says; critics not so sure

(NEWSER) - An advertising deal between Google and Yahoo is certain to stir the Justice Department’s antitrust division into action, no matter what the two do to address concerns, experts anticipating a partnership between the two Internet leaders tell the New York Times. Google says a deal would simply be a supply matter, with parallels in other industries. More»

Web giant steps in, offers to help Yahoo rebuff rival's advances

(NEWSER) - Google is offering to help Yahoo thwart Microsoft’s attempts at a hostile takeover, the Wall Street Journal reports. After Microsoft announced its $44.6-billion bid, Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt called Yahoo’s Jerry Yang on Friday to bolster talk of an ad search alliance, support Yahoo’s efforts to find a higher bidder, or help the struggling search giant remain independent. More»