Google Could Face Heavy Antitrust Fines In the EU

Posted by timothy on Sunday September 23, 2012 @08:13AM from the we-understand-you've-got-a-lot-of-money dept.

SquarePixel writes "Europe's competition watchdog is considering formal proceedings against Google over antitrust complaints about the way it promotes its own services in search results, potentially exposing the company to a fine of 10 percent of its global turnover. Google is accused of using its search service to direct users to its own services and to reduce the visibility of competing websites and services. If the Commission found Google guilty of breaking E.U. competition rules, it could restrict Google's business activities in Europe and fine the company up to 10 percent of its annual global revenue (US$37.9 billion last year)."

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Re:EU are on crack by Guspaz · 2012-09-23 08:45 · Score: 4, Informative

They have over 80% of the global search marketshare. That's what makes them a monopoly. There's nothing illegal with being a monopoly, the question is if a company is abusing that monopoly or not.
Re:EU are on crack by Missing.Matter · 2012-09-23 08:53 · Score: 4, Informative

You don't even have to be a monopoly to run afowl of antitrust laws; you just have to be able to exert undue influence on market forces. Since Google has a search market share of 70%-80%, promoting their products in those searches has undue influence.