FTC Opens preliminary antitrust investigation into Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick
Today Google owns the Internet search engine market and DoubleClick owns the Internet banner advertisement market. Now Google is bidding $3.1 billion to dominate the search engine market, the banner advertisement market… and a lot of data.
DoubleClick has the ability to track what sites people visit and Google has the ability to collect search histories. Unfettered exclusive access to all this information could potentially allow Google, not the market, to set the prices for Internet advertisement. We will be waiting for the Federal Trade Commission’s report.
A related news article can be found at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/technology/29antitrust.html
If this happens, Google will become the monopoly of Internet advertisement. This cannot be good for the advertisers or for the customers. I hope the FTC blocks this deal.
Reply to this
I've heard a lot of people say that Google's just as evil as Microsoft... they just have better PR. I think this is proof that those folks are right.
Reply to this
How is Google evil? We live in a capitalist society and they are just playing the game really well. Don't hate the player, hate the game...
Reply to this
I think the acquisition is not a good business deal. Google has enough capital and marketting know-how to launch a competing operation for less than the $3.1B.
Reply to this