Google, Yahoo!, Apple Targeted In DoJ Antitrust Probe

suraj.sun writes with this excerpt from the Washington Post: "The Justice Department has launched an investigation into whether some of the nation's largest technology companies violated antitrust laws by negotiating the recruiting and hiring of one another's employees, according to two sources with knowledge of the review. The review, which is said to be in its preliminary stages, is focused on Google; its competitor Yahoo; Apple; and the biotech firm Genentech, among others, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. The sources said the review includes other tech companies and is 'industry-wide.' By agreeing not to hire away top talent, the companies could be stifling competition and trying to maintain their market power unfairly, antitrust experts said. ... Obama's antitrust chief at the Justice Department, Christine Varney, has said she plans to look at the network effects of high-tech companies and how their grasp on markets has cut out competitors and hurt consumers."

Comments

Re:Seriously?

[BadAnalogyGuy]

I used to drive a Hyundai Sonata. Whenever I took it out, I would get stares because the heap would lay down a huge black cloud of exhaust when I pressed the gas. I would occasionally think about getting it fixed, but never really got around to it. Then one day I was t-boned at an intersection. The car was totaled.

In the business world, things are much the same way. Collision is just as bad as a monopoly.

Re:Apparently the Obama administration doesn't

[poetmatt]

Wait, someone voted for a Browser Helper Object? I've never heard of one being elected, personally.

Re:Apparently the Obama administration doesn't

[Anonymous Coward]

*crickets chirping*

Re:It's monopsony by collusion

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

OMG! Monoponies!