Settling the Conflict

Last week, I referenced my Search Insider column -- "If I Were Running Microsoft." It appears someone in Redmond may actually be paying attention. #9 on my list was to divest Avenue A Razorfish due to the conflict of interest with a media property owning an agency. Today, AdAge breaks the news that MSFT and WPP are discussing a deal that would send Ave A to WPP in exchange for 24/7 Real Media (which is a conflict in its own right with an agency holding company owning a media network.)