Google confirms FTC 'discussion' pending over Schmidt-Apple relationship
Correction at 2:50 p.m. PDT: This story initially misquoted Kent Walker. He confirmed that Google was aware of a "pending FTC discussion" into Schmidt's board seats.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--Google confirmed that the Federal Trade Commission plans to hold discussions with the company over a possible conflict of interest due to CEO Eric Schmidt's participation on both Google and Apple's board of directors.
In response to questions posed by reporters during a lunch meeting with Google executives--including Schmidt--Google vice president and general counsel Kent Walker confirmed that Google was aware of a "pending FTC discussion" into Schmidt's board seats, which was reported earlier in the week by The New York Times.
Google does not believe Schmidt's role on Apple's board presents a problem, and encourages company members to participate on boards, said David Drummond, Google's chief legal officer and senior vice president for corporate development.
Schmidt reiterated that he recuses himself from discussions inside Apple that involve areas in which the companies overlap, such as the iPhone. When asked if he recuses himself from any other discussions inside Apple, he said "not that I recall."
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
What a waste of money.
- by theobstruction May 9, 2009 5:13 AM PDT
- If Apple doesn't care, and Google doesn't care, and both parties have competing products (no monopoly), then why is the FTC wasting our tax dollars? I hate Big Government more everyday.
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