EU Offers Google a Chance to Avoid Fines Over Four Antitrust Concerns - stewartadvigul

Google has "a subject of weeks" to address four fair issues identified by European Union antitrust regulators. If Google addresses these issues the case can beryllium solved by a so-called "commitment decision" instead of positive antitrust proceedings resulting in a fine, said Joaquín Almunia, Vice President of the European Mission accountable for Competition Policy.

The Perpetration began an antitrust investigating of Google's activities in November 2010, and has now all over that Google may be considered to hold abused its market dominance in four areas, Almunia said in a argument connected Mon.

First of complete, it displays golf links to its own semi-upright search services that stress on special topics such as restaurants or news alongside the general search service. Those links are displayed differently than links from competitors who offer similar unbent search services, said Almunia.

"We are concerned that this Crataegus oxycantha result in preferential treatment compared to those of competing services, which may be harm as a consequence," he said.

The second concern is Google's practice of copying content such as user reviews from competitors to expose that on their own site without authorization. By doing this Google is appropriating the benefits of the investments competitors made, and this could reduce competitors' incentive to invest, Almunia said, citing possible impact on move out sites or sites that provide restaurant guides.

The third antitrust issue concerns agreements between Google and partners that use Google searches on their websites, where Google ads are displayed next to the search results.

"The agreements resultant in de facto exclusivity requiring them to obtain totally or nigh of their requirements of search advertisements from Google, thus shutting out competing providers of search advert mediation services," Almunia said, adding that this volition potentially affect advertising services purchased by online stores, magazines, broadcasters and others.

Besides these three objections Almunia said the regulators are also concerned about restrictions that Google puts happening the portability of online AdWords search advert campaigns to competitors' platforms. Almunia said that he was concerned that Google imposes written agreement restrictions and by doing that prevents software developers from offer tools for the transfer of advertising campaigns.

Almunia said helium wrote a letter to Google Chairman Eric Schmidt to offer Google the theory to "to come up in a matter of weeks with first proposals of remedies to address each of these points."

Google said in an e-mail statement that it only right started to look through the arguments. "We take issue with the conclusions but we're happy to discuss any concerns they might have," Google said.

Loek covers all things tech for the IDG News Armed service. Follow him on Twitter at @loekessers OR email tips and comments to loek_essers@idg.com.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/464647/eu_offers_google_a_chance_to_avoid_fines_over_four_antitrust_concerns.html

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