Slashdot Mirror
European Commission Reopens Google Antitrust Investigation
An anonymous reader writes:
Earlier this year, European Commission regulators finally agreed to a settlement in the organization's long-running antitrust investigation of Google's search and advertising business. Unfortunately for Google, it didn't stick. The EC said today they're reopening the investigation after a large number of "very negative" complaints about the settlement. "The key objection to the proposed settlement, which would have allowed rival services to buy spaces at the top of search results pages, was that it would not prevent Google from favoring its own services, and would divert money from the rivals to Google even if they received clickthroughs from the adverts — rather than the zero-cost solution if they were ranked highly in 'organic' search results, and Google was prevented from putting its own commercial services above those." The Commission is also looking into other parts of Google's business, including its influence over mobile devices through Android.
If Google's rivals are being unfairly treated by Google's search results, then they should make their own search engines that are fair. Yes, I understand Google has an advantage by having a head start, but that hasn't stopped for example Facebook from overthrowing MySpace for social networking. A rival company with a better idea or better results could challenge or even defeat Google without getting even more government involvement in the internet. People voluntarily choose to use Google, at least on desktops (Bing is the default) and even if you have a search engine ballot like the EU loves to do, people still would choose Google, generally. Also remember that Google's results are from an algorithm. Googles products merely get high placement because Google is the most popular website in the internet. If the people think rival search engines are better, they will use them, but right now the simple truth is Google is the best. If you hate that, then build something better, but stop trying to abuse the legal system to get what you want.
why not get it from Teh Goog!e
I don't really understand - it's googles product (phones, search, etc) why can't they do what they like with it? I'm sure people would go elsewhere if other products were any good?
Give us your Geld, Amerika, or we'll gas ihre Juden. Verstanden, ja?
European Commission Reopens Google Antitrust Investigation
Shouldn't this be open continuously?
They will keep setting demands that are dammed if you do, damned if you don't. Then they will shift the goalposts. Google is screwed. The EU is butthurt that no European based tech company has anything even close to a viable competing product. Their old blue chip technology company, Nokia is in ruins. The EU in retribution wants a continuous supply of money from Google into their coffers. Its trade protectionism, pure and simple.
Google Headquarter
I understand why they want to sue them
I would just love to see Google suspend all European based operations, even if it is for a few days. Its a long coming with onerous the regulations the EU is placing on them that are nearly impossible to comply with. What would EU do? Would they erect a great internet firewall like china and block their own citizens from using Google's servers in other countries? Ordinary citizens would start using open proxies and VPN tunnels just to use google, youtube, and gmail. The EU would have lost the moral high ground on internet censorship.
...ever offering up better search results that didn't include Google results.
Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
This is the most ridiculous abuse of antitrust law ever. This "European Commission" should be sued in the WTO for their abuse of power in punishing American companies for being successful. Or better yet, let's just get rid of the WTO and "free trade" ideals entirely and admit that national protectionism is in the best interest of the citizens of each country.
Let me translate this for you:
"I would love for the EU to start censoring the internet so I can tell them that they have lost the moral high ground on internet censorship"
You're welcome...
If the money isn't flowing, then the market isn't free. Any private entreprise, be it Google are whoever, that diverts money to itself is anti-free market.
Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
LAst part of your post makes sense. First part not so much. Google is deemed a monopoly on search area, so they have stricter rules to follow. One part of monopoly rules is to not use your monopoly as a leverage to enter other busines areas. Google may be using it's search as a way to promote (for example) it's maps business. I completely understand the need for such laws, otherwise for example, microsoft would have succeeded in forcing all other browsers out. There would only be IE (99% marketshare), and after that they would have forced other webservers out. IIS only, as it's the only one that works with IE, after that hardware would have gone the same route. MS hardware only, because software only works on it. I'm sure you see the pattern. Now, google may, or may not be doing this. If they are, they will be forced to do something else instead, if they aren't, well ,then they aren't.
Nazi/Hitler reference coming up in 3, 2, 1...
The problem with that sentiment is that Google's rivals aren't other search engines. Their rivals are any business whose model Google finds favorable, then copies copies, and then promotes it using its own search engine. For example, let's say you want to fly to Toronto from NYC. If you google "nyc to toronto", one of the first and biggest search results is from Google Flights showing you a wide range of flights and prices. In this case, Google's rivals are Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, etc. Same thing goes for review services. No matter what one thinks of Yelp, they were one of the first few place review services around. Then Google tried to buy them and, when that failed, copied their business model and turned it into Google Places which held top place in any location search.
The EU's business model approach is a LOT like that of Tony Soprano. And they will not go away until the EU owns a large minority stake in Google.
If only they would put the bank tellers to the same scrutiny...