FTC to Investigate Google's $3.1bn Advertising Purchase ; Business News IN BRIEF

May 30, 02:02 AM

Current Headlines: The Federal Trade Commission is launching an in-depth competition review of Google's $3.1bn ([pound]1.6bn) acquisition of DoubleClick, the online advertising broker. The move, revealed by Google in a regulatory filing late last night, is a victory for critics of the deal, including Microsoft, which lost out in the auction to buy the firm. Microsoft and a string of media firms have warned the acquisition gives Google too much power and information in the internet advertising market. The deal, announced last month, would bring the biggest player in display advertising - the banner ads, pop-ups and commercial video placed on websites - under the control of the world's biggest internet search firm.

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