Now Congress Is Interested In Google/DoubleClick Deal

from the now-answer-this dept

Thu, Jul 19th 2007 6:45am — Joseph Weisenthal

This week, we pointed to a report that predicted the FTC would block Google's acquisition of DoubleClick on antitrust grounds. This particular case notwithstanding, the report's author made the argument that Google was likely to replace Microsoft as the chief target of antitrust enforcers. That prediction could be coming to fruition very quickly. In addition to the FTC's scrutiny of the deal, Congress has decided to drag Google in front of a committee to discuss the deal. This doesn't spell doom for the deal just yet, but it does suggest that politicians are growing wary of Google's power, in the same way they had concerns about Microsoft. It's no wonder the company has been busily beefing up its forces in Washington.

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Filed Under: antitrust, politics
Companies: doubleclick, google

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Martin Edic, 19 Jul 2007 @ 7:53am

they are grandstanding
If Google were not Google congress wouldn't touch this- it's a stunt, IMHO. Why not look at Microsoft's purchase of aQuantive which includes a major ad agency (AvenueA/Razorfish)? This is a real conflict as they will now be competing with their agency advertisers for clients.
As far as I can tell the Doubleclick deal does not include any agency properties. It is an natural expansion for a media company to acquire another technology, not a monopoly. There are many ad servers out there.
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michael, 19 Jul 2007 @ 8:06am

next purchase
i heard google is gonna buy congress
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Overcast, 19 Jul 2007 @ 8:32am

Congress must not be getting a cut!

Either that - or double click is how the FBI and other agencies install spyware onto PC's and they couldn't have that compromised.

I wonder if we'll get arrested in the future for our words against 'The Government'.

hmmm.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jul 2007 @ 9:23am

Re: next purchase
Why not everyone else has...
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Trouble Maker, 19 Jul 2007 @ 9:56am

two cents worth
>This message as been censored by the Google Congressional BOT. Due to the nature of this message it has been deemed to be in violation of the Congressional Anti-Trust Statement Act. All derogatory statements made against Congress will be viewed as Free Thought. Currently Free Thought is not illegal however Congressional Bill #321-798-2007 is a proposal to limit Free Thinking to licensed constituents only.
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Charles Griswold, 19 Jul 2007 @ 5:03pm

Re: next purchase
i heard google is gonna buy congress
They're only doing this to compete with Microsoft(R) Congress(R). Neither company is very concerned with OpenCongress or FreeCongress, which have lately had very few active developers.
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geri, 21 Jul 2007 @ 7:48pm

Google/Double Click
This was does definitely need review... But let's look at who is complaining... Microsoft and AT&T.... Make ya' wonder!
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