Google, Yahoo Extend Deadline for Antitrust OK on Ad Deal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 21, 2008 - 8:55am.

Washington - Google (NASD: GOOG) and Yahoo (NASD: YHOO) have extended the Wednesday deadline proposed to give federal regulators time to examine their proposed online advertising partnership, according to reports. Google CEO Eric Schmidt told reporters in Florida after a campaign appearance with Sen. Barack Obama that the company has agreed to extend its discussions with the Justice Dept., Reuters reported.

The companies had initially stated that they would hold off on launching the partnership until Oct. 8 to give regulators time to examine the terms; that deadline was then extended to Oct. 22, and then pushed back again today.

Under the proposed deal, Google would serve ads against some Yahoo search results.

Opposition to the deal has been voiced by large advertisers, who fear it may result in Google controlling too large a share of the online advertising market.