Google Deal in Japan Clears Bar

Japan's antitrust regulators approved a Web-search alliance between Google and Yahoo Japan, despite protests from rivals and calls from lawmakers for a closer look at the deal.

The alliance, announced in July, calls for Yahoo Japan, the country's most-visited Internet portal and search site, to use Google's search-engine and search-advertising platforms. That will boost Google's share of searches in Japan to about 90%. Japan's Fair Trade Commission said the deal wouldn't "immediately" violate antitrust rules, explaining that it is limited to a sharing of technology. "We have not found any evidence that they are collaborating by sharing sensitive information such as ad pricing or any other problematic ways," said Takujiro Kono, head of the consultation and guidance office in the commission's trade-practices department. The commission said it will monitor the alliance to ensure rules aren't broken as it develops.