Google protests Microsoft Web search 'grab'
Seattle PI | at | by Mike
With a $10 billion advertising market at stake, Google is objecting to the way that it says Microsoft is wielding control over Internet searching in its new Web browser.
Google, which only recently began beefing up its lobbying efforts in Washington, says it expressed its concerns in recent talks with the Justice Department and the European Commission, both of which have brought previous successful antitrust actions against Microsoft.
The new browser includes a search box that is typically set up to send users to Microsoft's MSN search service. Google contends that this positions Microsoft to unfairly grab Web traffic and advertising dollars away from its competitors.