Presence of the same directors at Apple and Google is illegal

The Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether Apple and Google are violating antitrust laws, reported the New York Times.

Two of the Apple’s and Google’s board of directors members are the same people: Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and former Genetech CEO Arthur Levinson. Schmidt has been on Apple's board since August 2006, and Levinson has jointed him in 2000.

The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 prohibits a person's presence on the board of two rival companies, if there is a probability that it would reduce competition between them.

FTC has already notified the two companies of its interest.