While antitrust regulators at the Justice Department are already looking at the potential competitive overlaps arising from Microsoft Corp.'s attempt to purchase Yahoo! Inc., the news that the target is frantically looking for alternatives doesn't seem to quell any regulatory concerns.
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Shortly after the announcement that Yahoo! has entered discussions with rival Google Inc., Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., issued a statement saying that deal, too, would be closely scrutinized for antitrust issues.
As though ignoring the notion that the deal is an alternative to a Microsoft-Yahoo! combination, Kohl said, "Following closely on the heels of Google's acquisition of DoubleClick, this Google-Yahoo! alliance would represent even further consolidation in the Internet advertising market. We must ensure that this consolidation does not foreclose needed competition or harm consumers."
But those concerns are probably premature. If DOJ's antitrust division, not the Federal Trade Commission, also looks at Google-Yahoo!, there's likely to be a fix. The DOJ hasn't gone to court to stop any deal in nearly four years. - Cecile Kohrs Lindell in Washington
See Kohl's statement
See story from TheDeal.com
