• Ars Technica, Friday, August 17, 2007 11:15 AM

Microsoft is so bent on keeping Google's DoubleClick acquisition from being approved, the software giant has hired lobbying firm Patton Boggs LLC in Washington. Now that the House and Senate are looking into the matter, the lobbying frenzy can begin. So far, Microsoft has put $40K behind the effort.

Three Patton Boggs associates have been working on the issue since May 15, according to the Associated Press.

Isn't it ironic that Microsoft sees something wrong with a Google-DoubleClick merger? After all, the technology recently completed a similar deal in acquiring aQuantive for $6 billion. Meanwhile, scores of companies continue to turn out in opposition to the merger, including everyone from marketers to ad holding companies to nonprofit groups. It seems that most want to guard against a mightier, scarier Google.

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