In a move that should surprise no one, Google and Yahoo have “officially” abandoned their proposed Internet advertising partnership. The proposal was laughable from the start, but the two firms took the public stance that the arrangement could somehow have been “pro-competition.” Antitrust regulators were having none of it. As it became clear that the proposal would not simply slide past regulators Google Read More

  The joint advertising deal between Google and Yahoo, previously discussed in CyberLawg, is being delayed as the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division continues its review. Both Yahoo and Google have correctly taken the “we’re happy to help and comply” public line. Still, there is no question that an antitrust review that needs more time is not good news for the potential bedfellows. The Google Read More

  The FCC, after being deadlocked along party lines, is expected to clear a merger between satellite radio providers XM and Sirius, so long as the firms meet certain conditions, reportedly the firms' payment of $20 million in fines for violations regarding tower locations and power limits. The approval of the merger comes as a disappointment to consumer groups and Democratic FCC Commissioners, who had Read More

  The deal that allows Google to provide some advertising for Yahoo searches has unsurprisingly attracted a formal antitrust probe from the Department of Justice. The fact that the Bush Administration’s Department of Justice, comfortably hands-off in recent years, has begun a formal investigation is not good news for the deal. As a report notes, attorneys for Yahoo and Google believe that the deal is Read More

  A topic that is garnering increased interest in recent years, particularly in the age of substantial media consolidation, is the “local role” of broadcasters in servicing their communities. The FCC continues to mandate that broadcasters meet certain standards of community service, such as providing programming of interest to local audiences, playing local artists, and otherwise “being a part of the Read More

  The winners of the auctioned spectrum were announced today. As expected, Verizon Wireless and ATT were the big winners. While billions of dollars were spent on this spectrum by the firms, there is little question that the investment was a good one. Rights to this resource will position both ATT and Verizon as long term wireless powerhouses for years to come. Read More

  The FCC’s auction of spectrum being vacated by analog television netted the agency $19.6 billion that will be used to help with the transition to over-the-air digital television. This amount represented more money raised that all previous spectrum auctions combined. The winner of the auction will not be named for some time, but most followers expect to see Verizon Wireless or AT&T Wireless eventually Read More

  The bidding war for radio spectrum that is being freed up by the elimination of analog television broadcasting continues to attract attention by major technology firms. You can see a map of the spectrum range here.   Several blocks of spectrum in the 700-MHz range have to date attracted bids of $18.9 billion, well in excess of the FCC’s goal of $10 billion. Of particular note, the C Block, the Read More

  Talk about a big deal. Microsoft has offered to purchase Yahoo for $44 billion. If completed, the monstrosity would be an instant Google competitor, combining the forces of two firms that alone have not been able to compete with Google.   While the deal is a long way from coming to fruition, this seems to make sense at first glance. Both Yahoo and Microsoft have had their various struggles over the Read More

  A recent bill introduced in the house, entitled “Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2007,” or PRO IP for short, casts an eye towards improving international cooperation and enforcement of IP rights.   The bill, introduced by John Conyers of Michigan, proposes that the United States Patent and Trademark Office appoint 10 intellectual property attachés to serve Read More