Scott Morrison

On February 12, Google filed its 2009 annual report, which for the first time named social networks like Facebook, e-commerce sites like Amazon and vertical search engines like WebMD as competitors.

Google wants Internet users to tap into smart electricity meters with new software that will help them save money and the environment.

Google's acquisition of video compression software maker On2 Technologies Inc. has been challenged in court by On2 shareholders who claim the deal's $106.5 million price tag is "unfair."

Worldwide spending on Internet advertising fell 5% in the most recent quarter, the second consecutive period in which the once-booming online ad market has shrunk.

The recession is creating a golden opportunity for some Internet industry leaders to solidify and expand their already-dominant positions. Companies like search giant Google, Web-based movie service Netflix, Internet retailer Amazon.com and online jeweler Blue Nile can take advantage of the downturn to reinforce customer relationships, develop new products and services, and take share from weaker competitors that are simply trying to survive.

Revenue growth at Google has slowed dramatically over the past year. Google's years of rapid growth were fueled almost entirely by a single business: sales of search ads, the small text ads that appear next to search results cranked out by its Internet search engine.