Ok, I really don’t want to harp on this, but this was just too interesting. If you don’t know Google is buying doubleclick and Microsoft has raised concerns that the deal might be (or lead to) a monopoly of online advertising.
Despite the fact that Microsoft is itself a monopoly, and the accusation is highly hypocritical, personally I have a few concerns about the buy as well. Now I am even more suspicious because of how Eric Schmidt (Google CEO) answered a question regarding Microsoft’s claims. He said:
“The specific complaints Microsoft has made are clearly false, … I think a more likely scenario is that they are making those arguments because they are a competitor of ours.”
Greg Sandoval Schmidt says YouTube ‘very close’ to filtering system CNET April 16, 2007, 5:35 PM PDT
Assuming CNET is providing the whole quote: That’s it? Not an actual answer about any conserns just a sweeping “it’s clearly false” and an ad hominem response? Wow.
While I really don’t want Microsoft to get Doubleclick either, I don’t think creating more monopolies is a good tactic for the American economy. Of course, Google becoming a monopoly is speculation, but they seem to be well on their way, no?
I do not think anyone is going to actually look at this buy. After the buy what Google and it’s supporters will do will be an interesting thing to watch I think.