Tuesday, October 14, 2008
DOJ Recalibrates Google Arrogance Algorithm
A few weeks back, Google wasn’t at all deterred by regulators’ heightened scrutiny of the company’s advertising agreement with Yahoo. It had no plans to delay the deal with its struggling rival, which was to begin this month. “Time is money in our business,” said Google CEO Eric Schmidt. “… While we have been talking to regulators, we don’t know what their position is. We don’t know if they think it’s a good deal or poor deal.” How quickly things change.
Much as Google would like us all to believe that its proposed partnership with Yahoo is a benign one, a growing chorus of critics insists otherwise. The latest to take issue with the deal: The Association of National Advertisers, which represents a group of 400 companies with 9,000 brands.
Our long national nightmare of unceasing Yahoo-Microsoft headlines is finally over. Shares of Yahoo slipped into the mud this afternoon amid reports it has concluded whatever tortured discussions it’s been having with Microsoft without reaching any sort of merger agreement. Redmond, it seems, is no longer willing to pay $33 per share to acquire Yahoo. It is, however, open to discussing an “alternative transaction.” Meanwhile, Yahoo and Google are moving closer to a deal.
