Originally published November 21, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified November 23, 2008 at 4:00 AM
Comments (3)
E-mail article
Print view
Editorial
Google's dominance is a growing concern
It would be an antitrust calamity for the two largest online companies to combine in any way.
Seattle Times editorial
ON Nov. 5, when national attention was on the election returns, many Americans missed a significant event. Google dropped its plan to pool advertising with Yahoo because of objections from the Department of Justice. The regulators' justifiable concern was the two companies' shares of market.
Google has a global share of 81 percent. Yahoo has 11 percent. Next are MSN, 3 percent, and AOL, 2 percent. With the market divided like that — one giant, one little guy and some insects — it would be an antitrust calamity for the two largest companies to combine in any way.
Yahoo might combine with someone else — Microsoft offered it $33 a share last spring — but not with Google.
The Los Angeles Times noted there is "a deep awareness — and growing concern — by regulators of Google's online dominance."
Several things might help correct that. If Yahoo can't succeed on its own, it needs to be acquired by a company that will give it a run.
Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang was against the $33 offer from Microsoft but he said Monday he would be stepping down. Yahoo stock, which had fallen to $10.63, jumped about a dollar.
There is another problem. Google is getting rich packaging content owned by magazines and newspapers and not paying for it. At some point, Google should have to pay. Yahoo, also.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
Charles Krauthammer / Syndicated columnist: New York trial a propaganda coup for terrrorists

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Senate vote clears hurdle
239 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
137 - Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
129 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
124 - Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle
123 - Cutting through breast-cancer confusion
90 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
89 - Game thread
70 - New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
65 - Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
54
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Banff: powder, peaks & purity
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Protect yourself from baggage loss
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Northwest Living | On Whidbey, a unified home from multiple recycled parts






