Greg Sterling of Search Engine Land reports Google and eBay skirmish: This week, eBay Live is happening in Boston, but the event is likely to be overshadowed by a fascinating and fast-developing controversy between the auction giant and Google. Rumors from ComparisonEngines.com and other sources last night and earlier today reported that eBay had pulled its ads off Google to protest a planned party (now cancelled) to promote Google Checkout, called "Let Freedom Ring," that was to coincide with eBay Live.

Google planned the party to expose eBay sellers to its PayPal competitor. Google said it was doing so because eBay was rigidly refusing to discuss providing Google Checkout as a payment option for sellers and buyers on eBay. Google said that eBay power sellers and its ProStores webhosting subsidiary had approached Google to obtain access to Checkout. According to Google, eBay wasn't willing to talk about how to work with Checkout.