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Microsoft, Yahoo! to face FTC probe over ad buys
Just like Google...

By Ian Fried

Published: Friday 15 June 2007

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reportedly wants to take a look at a few online advertising acquisitions, not just Google's planned deal to acquire DoubleClick.

The regulatory agency also plans to look into Microsoft's $6bn deal to buy Aquantive and Yahoo!'s plans to buy the rest of Right Media, The Wall Street Journal reported on its website.

Microsoft confirmed it has been notified by the FTC that the agency plans to review the Aquantive deal.

A Microsoft spokesman said: "We are co-operating fully and look forward to addressing any questions the FTC may have as part of their review."

In an interview last month, Microsoft division president Kevin Johnson tried to draw distinctions between the Aquantive deal and Google's DoubleClick buy, outlining why he believed that deal merited antitrust scrutiny while Microsoft's purchase did not.

Ina Fried writes for CNET News.com