Conflict of Interest in FTC for Google/DoubleClick Deal?
After hitting a European roadblock a month ago, Google’s proposed takeover of DoubleClick is raising a few eyebrows here in the States as well.
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras’ husband is a lawyer for the firm Jones Day, which represents DoubleClick. What’s more, her husband, John Majoras, happens to work in the anti-trust wing of the firm. Also, the wife of FTC Commissioner William Kovacic, Kathryn Fenton, works for the firm. Both parties are insistent there is no conflict of interest present, pointing out that they have chosen to forgo equity profits at Jones Day, so would not profit from the merger.
“Any decisions that I may make in any case in which Jones Day represent a party cannot be said to directly and predictably affect my husband’s interest in Jones Day. Hence, I do not have a financial conflict in this matter,” said Majoras in an official statement.
Many privacy advocates feel differently. First of all, in spite not receiving equity, the lawyers would gain an advantage from the deal going through due to success the firm would garner. Winning is good, and bonunes follow.
The FTC was suppose to make a decision on the deal Thursday, but have chosen to extend the review.
Technorati Tags: google, doubleclick, ftc
[…] deal, beset by conflict-of-interest controversy, went through with a 4-1 vote after it was determined by the commission that Google’s […]