So who at Google (or Doubleclick) spilled the beans to Mr. Guth and Mr. Forelle?
Corporate cat fights amuse me. This particular one is fairly prosaic, but still is a glimpse at what oft happens behind the scenes.
By ROBERT A. GUTH and CHARLES FORELLE
Microsoft Corp. executives and a public-relations firm retained by the software giant are waging a quiet campaign to convince Internet companies, advertisers and regulators to oppose Google Inc.'s planned $3.1 billion acquisition of online advertising specialist DoubleClick Inc.
In recent months, public-relations firm Burson-Marsteller pitched media outlets and Internet companies on what it said were the dangers of the deal, which would bolster Google's already strong presence in online advertising. In the written pitches reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Burson cites the deal as part of a larger discussion of "fair and free competition" in Internet-search and privacy rights of consumers.
• Quiet Campaign: Microsoft has been working with public-relations firm Burson-Marsteller on an effort to drum up opposition to Google's DoubleClick deal.
• Tough Market: The deal, which requires approval by regulators, would bolster Google's already strong position in online advertising.
• Frequent Target: Microsoft has faced pressure in Europe and elsewhere over its size and tactics, and has been a target of similar campaigns by rivals in the past.
In Europe, Burson urged Internet companies to become signatories on an online petition for a more "transparent and competitive Internet," according to the pitches. It directed the companies to a Web site, www.i-comp.org, and provided user names and passwords to log in.
The pitches cited a number of groups and an individual who had signed on to the effort. The pitches didn't disclose that Burson was working for Microsoft, Google's largest rival.
Josh Gottheimer, an executive vice president at Burson, said the firm was hired by Microsoft to set up i-comp.org as a "discussion forum" for issues of privacy and competition. He said the firm doesn't disclose its clients as a general practice, but said in some cases companies were told Microsoft was a member of the group. He said Burson -- a unit of Young & Rubicam, which is owned by WPP Group PLC -- pitched the effort to more than 100 companies and organizations.
[From Microsoft Goes Behind the Scenes - WSJ.com]
