Government looks at Apple, Google board ties

What competitors have not been able to do to Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG), the Federal Trade Commission may accomplish -- slowing the ability to remain dominant in their respective industries.

The companies share two board members and one of them is Google CEO Eric Schmidt. This has raised concerns that business dealings between the two firms may not be at "arm's length." If the FTC probe goes badly for the tech giants, the two directors might have to step down at one of the companies.