To trust or antitrust, that is the question
Microsoft and Yahoo are not just teaming up for an internet search deal, the pair are also frantically searching for a way to press on with their plans in the EU, according to company spokespeople.
Both firms are apparently up to their ears in regulatory clearance paperwork, with legal beagles from both Microsoft and Yahoo attempting to determine "whether or not the deal requires formal notice before the (European) Commission," and if not, whether they need to file notice with the individual European countries interested in scrutinizing the deal.
Back in July, Microsoft and Yahoo finally agreed to a 10-year search deal which would see Microsoft search applied to all Yahoo pages. The US Department of Justice has already asked Microhoo to offer up more information about the deal for closer scrutiny. Now it would appear the same discussions will have to be had in Europe with EC officials too.
Google held 67.5 percent of the US' search market in July, according to market research firm ComScore, but in Europe Google's slice of the market pie is significantly higher, exceeding 90 percent.
By pooling resources, Yahoo and Microsoft could effectively snatch a much higher percentage of the search spoils, making themselves a significantly more attractive prospect for future advertisers.
