The search world is really becoming complicated. Yahoo has a deal with Microsoft and Yahoo (Japan) has a deal with Google.
But Microsoft is protesting Google’s alliance. Yahoo Japan is independent of Yahoo, as they only own 34% of the Japanese company.
“The Japan Fair Trade Commission on Thursday approved the partnership between Google Inc. of the United States and Yahoo Japan Corp”, Asahi reported, noting “as the partnership goes through, Google’s search technology will account for about 90 percent of the Japanese market.”
“The move had triggered criticism from rivals Microsoft and domestic online retailer Rakuten Inc, citing the risk of unfair competition,” Reuters reported.