Google and Yahoo are negotiating with the US Department of
Justice (DoJ) to avoid being pulled up on
anti-trust charges as a result of their web advertising
deal.
The pair signed an online ad revenue sharing deal earlier this
year, and Microsoft and others have complained the deal threatens
to limit the web ad market for advertisers.
The
Wall
Street Journal reports the two firms have entered into
negotiations with the DoJ to find a resolution that would address
anti-trust fears on their agreement.
The paper cites lawyers involved in the negotiations. The
Google/Yahoo deal, signed after Yahoo rejected a takeover bid by
Microsoft, will see Google running ads on Yahoo's search pages.
The extra revenue generated for Yahoo will help justify its
rejection of the Microsoft takeover, in that it will help return
greater value to those disgruntled
Yahoo shareholders who saw value in a Microsoft takeover.
Microsoft and others fear Google will be in a stronger position
to control web ad rates however.