The conniving internet industry does not believe in sharing the content of any contracts made in terms of partnerships, acquisitions or cross-marketing deals. This helps internet companies in negotiating pricing with other customers.

But Yahoo and Google have taken an unusual step of sharing excerpts of their contract. Critics and market gurus believe the deal to be a threat to online advertising which runs parallel to web search. The revenue split on the Google-Yahoo deal remains undisclosed.

Microsoft Corp protested against the deal as Google currently dominates 70% of the Web Search industry, and the Yahoo deal would make them a domineering force with control over 90% of the market. But execs of both the giants announced that they would be looking at expanding other areas than solely concentrating on online advertising.

Yahoo struck the mega deal in June with Google though it faced pressure of the merger from Microsoft. Yahoo aims at boosting its online advertising business through this deal.

The agreement covers only US and Canada and not international markets.