The Department of Justice's
antitrust division, which last year halted Google Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOG)
proposed collaboration with rival search advertiser Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) when
it threatened to haul the companies into court, is reportedly
scrutinizing other aspects of Google's business.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the search giant''s plan to scan books to create a searchable archive is under review. Washington
antitrust lawyers have predicted that Google is sure to face
heightened scrutiny now that the antitrust division is run by Christine
Varney, a former commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission and a
lawyer who has specialized in legal issues relating to Internet
competition and online privacy.
The Obama campaign
promised an increase in antitrust enforcement, and Varney, at her
swearing in last week,
said she plans to "dust off" American antitrust
laws and to "make sure they are well-worn."
One antitrust lawyer
who asked not to be named said that he believed Google is undoubtedly a target for the agency.
Three
years ago, a consortium of publishers and authors filed a lawsuit
against Google, claiming that the company's Book Search Service, which
sought to scan and publish thousands of books online, violated
antitrust laws.
That case has been settled, and according to Google's Web site, "This agreement will allow us to make many of these out-of-print
books available for preview, reading and purchase in the U.S."
Protecting the accessibility of out-of-print books was Google's impetus for the project, the company added.
It's not unusual for federal agencies to review private antitrust cases. -
Cecile Kohrs Lindell in Washington
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