FTC: We won't block Google-DoubleClick merger

Federal Trade Commission regulators said Thursday that Google's controversial $3.1 billion merger proposal with DoubleClick can proceed, despite earlier complaints raised by competitors and privacy advocates.

FTC regulators have been reviewing the proposed merger for months for possible antitrust violations, after Google announced plans in April to acquire the online ad serving company.

"After carefully reviewing the evidence, we have concluded that Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick is unlikely to substantially lessen competition" in the online advertising space, the commissioners wrote in their majority statement.

The vote was 4-1, with Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour issuing a dissent that reflected her "alternate predictions about where this market is heading, and the transformative role the combined Google/DoubleClick will play if the proposed acquisition is consummated."

For more in-depth coverage, see "FTC allows Google-DoubleClick merger to proceed."

[Renegade Knight]

Zero Public Benefit

Such a merger has zero public benefit. Both companies would get along fine without each other and grow and prosper. Combined, I guess I need to ramp up my anti spy er...spyware efforts.

Meanwhile XM And Sirus one of which will fail without a merger are taking up much more FCC brain power. This is one of the few cases where the best solution is the merger rather than letting one fail.

[R.Jefferson]

WRONGgggggggggggg

...My best Kevin Spacey Lex Luther impersonation.....

With this new tag team, Google will already know what we want to purchase (because they have terabytes of our spending habits) and they will ship us items (because they know where we live and retain our financial info) and direct us to web site ?we might be interested in? without any thought on our part.

Gosh isn?t the future great!

[royc]

Doubleclick on Google (NOT!!!)

IMHO You are right on both counts.

Update your HOSTS file to include both.

I have been using Google for all my searches but once the merger is completed I will stop.

I guess M$ live search is the lesser of the 2 EVILS!!