Department of Justice threatens to nix Google merger

Apparently, the Justice Department has made it clear to Google that it’s willing to go to court to block its acquisition of travel software-maker ITA – and Google has responded by stepping up negotiations to save the deal.

Sources say that a deal between Google and DOJ’s antitrust lawyers could be “days away,” but others also warn that negotiations about the $700 million acquisition could fall apart at any time. Among conditions on the table are possible provisions under which Google would license ITA software to rivals and others aimed at easing industry concerns that Google will use its search dominance to unfairly disadvantage rivals in the online travel business.