Mountain View (CA) - Dozens of civil rights and rural advocacy groups have asked the Justice Department to scrutinize any future Google and Yahoo partnership for anti-trust violations - even though no definitive deal has been announced. The groups argue that both companies would have a combined 90% of the online search advertising market and this could drive up prices and prevent competition.

The Justice Department is examining an earlier partnership between Google and Yahoo back in April. Since there is no official word about any future merger or partnership, the Justice Department is holding off on any further investigation.

Read more ... BBC.