Google, Yahoo and Apple face anti-trust investigation

The US Department of Justice is looking at allegations of collusive restraint on trade

Some of the biggest names in the technology industry are under investigation by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) over their hiring practices.

The investigation will look into agreements between the three companies to avoid headhunting each others' key staff. Sources involved in the investigation told the Washington Post that other technology firms may also be included if similar hiring practices are uncovered.

The DoJ said that a formal pact not to hire senior staff from each other would hamper the ability of staff to sell their services to the highest bidder, and therefore stifle competition.

"This could be collusive restraint on trade, which could have a serious impact on competition," said Albert Foer, president of the American Antitrust Institute.

The new presidential administration is taking a long look at the technology industry, and this is just the latest in a long line of proposed investigations.

The Federal Trade Commission is already investigating Google and Apple over the sharing of board members, and Christine Varney, the new assistant attorney general for anti-trust at the DoJ, has said that she wants to investigate Google over its position in the search market.