More on how #1 Google's Internet tentacles reach and "hold" onto #4 Ask.com's "private" data

ITNews has an interesting take in its piece "Google keeps what Ask.com erases."

• "AskEraser may remove user search query data from Ask.com's servers, but deleted data may live on, in part at least, on Google's servers. That's because Google delivers the bulk of the ads on Ask.com, based on information provided by Ask.."

 I flag this in the context of the Google-DoubleClick merger because not only does Google:

• Have dominant search market share (65% per Hitwise);
• Enjoy exceptional network effects;
• It's hidden market power tentacles reach farther than most appreciate...
  • What the ITNews article tells us is that there is a whole hidden layer of market power/influence by the #1 search engine over its #4 Ask.com "competitor." 

The market is even less competitive than I outlined in my Googleopoly white paper.

It reminds the astute watcher of how Microsoft used non-disclosed contractual arrangements to acquire more market power in the 1990's...