Microsoft Slams Google FTC Agreement

After a 19-month investigation into Google’s allegedly self-serving search system, the Federal Trade Commission has decided to settle with the tech giant—and not surprisingly, Microsoft is not happy about it. Calling the deal “unusual” and “weak,” Microsoft said Friday it believes Google is being held to a different standard than other companies. As part of the settlement, has Google agreed to honor prior commitments to license industry-standard patents instead of trying to get competing products banned. "We find it troubling that the agency did not adhere to its own standard procedures that call for the agency to obtain industry input on proposed relief and secure it through an enforceable consent decree," Microsoft VP Dave Heiner wrote in a blog post.