Google Taking Blows - Google/DoubleClick Revisited
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As a key player in online advertising, Google has been knee deep in recent consumer privacy controversies, especially after their acquisition of DoubleClick. There have been repeated requests by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) and the House Energy and Commerce Committee for Google to discuss the deal with members of the committee's staff. After several letters back and forth arguing over whether company spokesman actually met, Barton sent a letter asking 24 questions concerning the data retention and distribution aspects of the deal.
The European Union has also voiced concern over the deal, mainly about its effects on online advertising competition in Europe. We saw some excitement when FTC chairwoman Deborah Platt Majoras was asked to recuse herself from considering the deal because her husband is an equity investor in Jones Day, the law firm DoubleClick hired to represent it before the FCC. The FTC did approve the deal on December 20 -- but the European Commission is conducting an in-depth probe into the deal. The Commission has until April 2 to decide whether they are going to oppose the merger.
So the hits keep coming for Google. And they all grew out of Google's quest to dominate the online advertising market. Whether it be putting ads into the "knol" articles or having access to as many social networking sites as possible, clearly Google wants to have their hand in every marketable Internet niche there is. The question remains, how many pieces of the pie can Google take before all those flavors cause a nuclear reaction? I don't know, but Google has proven it can take a punch.
Announcer: Wow! Did you see that, Joe?
Analyst: I sure did. Google's got a heck of a chin, there's no doubt about that.
Announcer: How much more can he take, Joe?
Analyst: Oh trust me, this guy's got a lot more in the tank. He's shown he can throw with the best of 'em and I doubt this will be more than a speed bump on the road to his ultimate goal.
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