Although Yahoo announced on April 9 that it was conducting a test with Google to rely on Google to sell its search ads, the company's executives - according to a Reuters report this morning - previously dismissed a search-advertising deal with Google 'due to antitrust concerns.' That was the standpoint anyway - Reuters reports - during an internal meeting on January 30, the day before Microsoft made its merger offer.

The Reuters report reveals that the company stance became clear by chance:

"The position came to light in a complaint filed by attorneys representing two Michigan pension funds in a shareholder lawsuit that aims to revoke Yahoo takeover defenses and press the company to renew merger talks with Microsoft.

'We are focused on long-term value creation rather than short-term gains,' said a Yahoo document prepared for Yahoo executives ahead of an "all hands" internal meeting on January 30.."

What caused the about-face? Pundits obviously are drawing their own conclusions about risking antitrust protests maybe being the lesser of two evils, seen from the point of view of Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang, who is - mildly put - not a proponent of Microsoft acquiring Yahoo.

• Google: "Microsoft's Hostile Bid for Yahoo! Raises Troubling Questions"
• Microsoft Retort To Google on Yahoo! Bid: "Microsoft Is Committed to Openness"
• Google Itching To Play Spoiler on Microsoft's Yahoo! Dinner
• Ray Ozzie: Microsoft and Yahoo! Would Not Just Be Smashed Together
• Yahoo, Microsoft, Google - The Great i-Technology Love Triangle