Potete scommetterci: l’offerta di acquisto di Yahoo! fatta da Microsoft e la reazione di Google saranno uno dei temi caldi dei prossimi giorni.

David Drummond, capo dei legali di Google, ha bloggato i seguenti pensieri: si è detto preoccupato della possibile unione Yahoo!-Microsoft perchè quest’ultima “frequently sought to establish proprietary monopolies” e potrebbe quindi “extend unfair practices from browsers and operating systems to the internet.”

Google attacca a testa bassa, e Microsoft risponde attraverso una nota ufficiale di Brad Smith, general counsel:
The combination of Microsoft and Yahoo! will create a more competitive marketplace by establishing a compelling number two competitor for Internet search and online advertising. The alternative scenarios only lead to less competition on the Internet.

Today, Google is the dominant search engine and advertising company on the Web. Google has amassed about 75 percent of paid search revenues worldwide and its share continues to grow. According to published reports, Google currently has more than 65 percent search query share in the U.S. and more than 85 percent in Europe. Microsoft and Yahoo! on the other hand have roughly 30 percent combined in the U.S. and approximately 10 percent combined in Europe.

Microsoft is committed to openness, innovation, and the protection of privacy on the Internet. We believe that the combination of Microsoft and Yahoo! will advance these goals.

Non c’è che dire, l’aria si sta surriscaldando…