Yahoo, Google Delay Online-Ad DealYahoo Inc. and Google Inc. said they agreed to a brief delay in completing their planned online-advertising partnership while the Department of Justice completes its antitrust review of the relationship.
The companies said in June, when they announced the alliance, that they were voluntarily delaying its implementation until October to give regulators time to consider the agreement.
Because the Justice Department hasn't completed the review, representatives of Yahoo and Google said Friday that they expect a short additional delay while they continue discussions with the agency.
"We have had discussions with regulators and look forward to responding to their questions about this agreement," a Yahoo spokeswoman said in prepared remarks.
The agreement will allow Yahoo to run some search ads sold by Google and to share in the revenue.
The latest delay follows indications that Justice Department officials are looking very closely at the transaction and may be considering an antitrust challenge to the deal.
Some advertisers and competitors, including Microsoft Corp., have expressed concern about the deal.
At issue is whether the alliance would unfairly reduce competition in online-search advertising.
By: Don Clark and Brent Kendall
Wall Street Journal; October 5, 2008
