Let Google and Yahoo get along

By standing in the way of the proposed Internet search deal between Yahoo Inc. and Google Inc., the federal government, newspaper groups and national advertisers may very well prevent what they say they want -- more browser competition. (“EC is scrutinizing Yahoo-Google deal,” Sept. 16.)

Google’s agreement to broker some search ads for Yahoo’s search engine would only boost revenue for Yahoo, which has been losing ground to Google for years. Killing the deal shuts off that source of revenue, making it harder for Yahoo to compete. How, exactly, would that help consumers?

If Google is willing to help Yahoo, and thinks it might also help itself, government regulators should not stand in the way.

James G. Lakely

Pasadena