Antitrust Law
FTC Reviewing Google Deal
Posted May 29, 2007, 08:15 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
The Federal Trade Commission is conducting a preliminary antitrust investigation into Google’s planned $3.1 billion purchase of DoubleClick, a deal that will help Google in the online advertising market.
Both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) are quoting anonymous sources who said the FTC will conduct the review, rather than the Justice Department. Both agencies share responsibility for such investigations.
The Times says the FTC will decide soon whether to make a “second request” for information from Google, suggesting that the review is becoming more serious. But the Wall Street Journal said the second request has already been made.
Competitors have said they think the deal will give Google too much power in the online advertising market. Google says it believes its acquisition does not violate antitrust laws.