Federal Trade Commission Closes Google/DoubleClick Investigation  —  Proposed Acquisition “Unlikely to Substantially Lessen Competition”  —  The Federal Trade Commission today announced that it will not seek to block Google Inc.’s proposed $3.1 billion acquisition of Internet advertising …

Source:   Federal Trade Commission
Link:   http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/12/googledc.shtm

Apple Forces Rumors Site To Shut Down  —  For a few years now, there’s been a legal battle going on between Apple and Think Secret, a very popular Apple rumors site for publishing certain rumors.  The lawsuit had many people up in arms, as they pointed out that Think Secret should be protected …

Source:   […]

Bubble Video: This Thing Ain’t Over  —  Earlier today I e-mailed a few of the photographers listed in the credits of the now-infamous “Here Comes Another Bubble” video.  (For background, see previous posts here and here.)  Four of them wrote back right away.

Source:   PDNPulse
Author:   Daryl Lang
Link:   http://www.pdnpulse.com/2007/12/bubble-video-th.html

Look Who’s Bidding in Auction 73  —  The FCC’s auction of wireless spectrum is swarming with participants, some of which you might not expect—including Chevron and Vulcan’s Paul Allen  —  U.S. government auctions of wireless spectrum always attract plenty of established telecoms …

Source:   Business Week
Author:   Olga Kharif
Link:   http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content…

Twitter is dangerous  —  Twitter is rapidly becoming a serious threat to corporate information protection.  The program’s great strength — many-to-many messaging — becomes its great weakness in this context.  —  Imagine this scenario: 20 people are in a confidential meeting, one of them using Twitter.

Source:   IT Project Failures
Author:   Michael Krigsman
Link:   http://blogs.zdnet.com/projectfailures/?p=542

Apple, Think Secret settle lawsuit  —  PRESS RELEASE: Apple and Think Secret have settled their lawsuit, reaching an agreement that results in a positive solution for both sides.  As part of the confidential settlement, no sources were revealed and Think Secret will no longer be published.

Source:   Think Secret
Link:   http://www.thinksecret.com/news/settlement.html

Microsoft, Google, Yahoo to Pay $31.5M Over Illegal Gambling Ads  —  Microsoft to Provide Additional $9M to International Center for Missing and Exploited Children  —  Three major Internet companies have settled with the Justice Department for $31.5 million for promoting illegal online gambling …

Source:   ABCNEWS
Author:   Jason Ryan
Link:   http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/FedCrimes/story…

Google: Microsoft-Viacom deal helps our DoubleClick defense  —  At a Capitol Hill hearing in September, Microsoft’s top lawyer skewered the proposed merger of Google and DoubleClick as a sure path to an online advertising monopoly.  —  “One company will become the overwhelming dominant gateway …

Source:   CNET News.com
Author:   Anne Broache
Link:   http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9835849-7.html

Google’s DoubleClick Buy to Win Clearance, People Say  —  Dec. 19 (Bloomberg) — Google Inc.’s $3.1 billion purchase of DoubleClick Inc. will be cleared by U.S. antitrust enforcers as early as this week, two people with knowledge of the decision said.  —  The five-member Federal Trade Commission …

Source:   Bloomberg
Link:   http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid…