An internet entrepreneur has attempted to scupper the proposed Google and Yahoo deal by writing a letter to the US justice department accusing it of trying to monopolise search advert marketing on the internet.

According to a report in the New York Times, Dan Savage, who runs a business-to-business directory website called Sourecetool.com, used to make a pretty penny by using Google's adWords and AdSense programs.

He would ensure a good placement on search results for his site by paying money to AdWords and then generate revenue through targeted adverts on his site using AdSense.

His profit lay in earning more from people clicking on the adverts on his site than what he paid Google for the search terms.

But then his site stopped appearing in Google results because his landing page was poor quality, Google told him, in the eyes of its new algorithm, meaning he would have to make changes or pay more.

Mr Savage laid a few more accusations at Google's door than can safely be repeated here, but his letter to the justice department hinges on the fact that Google has too much power in the search advert business.

But is Google simply a victim of its own success, or is it guilty of imposing what it thinks is a suitable business model on others?

Online marketing specialists Business Feet help create value from business websites