Once a newspaper touches a story, the facts are lost forever - Norman Mailer
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Google might have hiked Microsoft’s ad rates
INTERNET SEARCH GIANT Google might have increased Microsoft's ad rates 50 fold, a Bloomberg report says.
Someone familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is looking into the rate increase.
It will also be looking into other allegations against Google about advertising as a result of complaints from Microsoft.
This is part of a larger antitrust probe into Google that began earlier this year, the source told Bloomberg.
An antitrust lawyer at Doyle Barlow & Mazard PLLC in Washington, Andre Barlow, told Bloomberg that, if true, the Microsoft allegations could be used to help the FTC build a case showing that Google has abused its power as the owner of the world's most popular search engine, violating the Sherman Act and other antitrust laws.
He said, "A lot of this conduct, when put together with a firm with market power, could be viewed as a violation" of antitrust laws.
And of course, the FTC will also consider Microsoft's motives for making the accusations, Barlow added. µ
Tags: Software
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Is the way it goes, there is no way to stop a big firm to not use all of its power. It is against nature to stop masturbating half way.
And that is why we have laws to prevent the "abuse of power". How well that works out is an other question.
And perhaps one should remember that Microsoft, the convicted "abuser of its power", is mentioned here, which again does not prove anything.