macnn/electronista
04/17/2008, 4:40pm, EDT
Thursday, April 17thMicrosoft hires lobbyists to help with Yahoo deal
Microsoft is already hiring lobbyists in order to speed up approval of a Yahoo acquisition, the lobby group in question has disclosed. Bryan Cave Strategies says it has been hired to aid and influence officials in the US government; this is despite the fact that Yahoo has not only refused Microsoft's efforts, it has actively sought out help in remaining independent, from companies such as Google, Time Warner and News Corporation. All Microsoft needs however is enough shareholder support in order to install a Microsoft-friendly board of directors.
According to the Associated Press, Yahoo has not revealed whether it has hired any outside consultants on Microsoft's bid. As another opponent of the merger however, Google has hired the Franklin Square Group, which is lobbying on "competition issues in the Internet industry." Google says it is otherwise unwilling to comment on lobbying efforts.
Filed under: industry
Other story tags: Microsoft, Google, Yahoo
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Damn, this is gonna get ugly... (rubs hands together). Ballmer is like a little kid, when he doesn't get what he wants.
What Ballmer doesn't understand, is that no one cares about him, anymore, now that Bill is off doing his own stuff. There's gonna be a rude awakening.
Some day.
Bribing huh?
Yahoo found a better date.