Internet giants Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. have agreed to delay implementing an advertising partnership to give the United States’ Department of Justice time to finish investigating the proposed deal, said the San Francisco Chronicle on Saturday.

The two companies are now in an indefinite holding pattern, raising more questions about whether the government plans to try to prevent the No. 1 and No. 2 search engines from cooperating, said the Chronicle.

Last month, the Justice Department hired a private attorney to examine the partnership.

Yahoo didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

The deal faces stiff opposition from some major advertisers and ad agencies, which fear that it will result in higher prices for online advertising.

Google and Yahoo have vigorously defended the partnership, saying that it will have no impact on prices and that it is structured in a way to avoid antitrust concerns.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet