Sergey Brin says the looming prospect of a real life Microhoo! gives him the willies.

"The Internet has evolved from open standards, having a diversity of companies," the Google co-founder told The Associated Press. "And when you start to have companies that control the operating system, control the browsers, they really tie up the top Web sites, and can be used to manipulate stuff in various ways. I think that's unnerving."

Clearly, Brin's been chatting with Google legal mind David Drummond, who says the fight to destroy Microhoo! is "about preserving the underlying principles of the Internet: openness and innovation."

Meanwhile, we think it's unnerving when a company that controls 60 per cent of all web searches attempts to gobble up the world's most successful banner ad engine, even as it reads your email, eyes your hard drive data, and makes a play for your medical records.

Such companies can be used to manipulate things in various ways too. And if you ask such companies even the simplest questions about how their technologies operate - whether you're a reporter or a customer - you'll soon realize this notion of openness only goes so far. ®

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