Microsoft Complains to FTC About Google Ad Rates

U.S. antitrust enforcers are investigating whether Google Inc. illegally increased advertising rates 50-fold for rival Microsoft Corp., according to a person familiar with the matter.

The Federal Trade Commission is probing the increase, along with other allegations against Google related to advertising, as a result of complaints from Microsoft, according to the person, who wasn’t authorized to publicly comment. The complaints are being examined as part of a larger antitrust probe into Google that began earlier this year, the person said.

Google Ad Rate for Microsoft Said to Be Investigated