Google facing likelihood of third antitrust complaint in Europe
AdWords and search-box contracts the focus of potentially impending third Statement of Objections from European Commission.
Topic: European Commission
SearchCap: Google merchant feed, Getty Images EU complaint & more
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google adds Merchant Center Feed Rules to make formatting shopping feeds easierApr 27, 2016 by Ginny Marvin A self-service tool to fix errors, add custom labels and more right in Merchant […]
Copyright bully Getty Images complains to EU that Google coerced it into image search
Company says high-res image search results have harmed traffic and revenues.
SearchCap: Google AdWords revamp, Google Maps iOS Spotlight & more
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google is completely redesigning AdWords: Offers first peek Mar 28, 2016 by Ginny Marvin The now-legacy platform will be undergoing a redesign process to make it easier to navigate and use. […]
SearchCap: Google PLA test, Google app indexing study & more
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Send AdWords alerts directly to Slack with this AdWords script libraryMar 10, 2016 by Russell Savage Looking to get those AdWords alerts out of your email inbox? Columnist Russell Savage shows […]
Streetmap Loses Anti-Competitive Lawsuit Against Google In UK
Streetmap had sued on grounds that putting Google Maps at the top of search results was an “abuse of competition."
Microsoft Pulls Funding For Anti-Google Lobbying Group FairSearch
According to a report in Re/Code appearing last week, Microsoft has pulled financial support from FairSearch, an anti-Google “watchdog” or lobbying group that has been at the forefront of advancing European antitrust moves against the company. We sought comment from Microsoft when the report appeared, but the company declined to respond. The FairSearch site lists […]
SearchCap: Google Updates Local Guides, Bing Rewards On MSN & New AdWords Tests
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google Using Points To Boost User Reviews, Beef Up Maps Content Nov 13, 2015 by Greg Sterling A couple of years ago, Google created a program in the mold of the […]
Europe Turns Antitrust Attention To Google Maps For Android
The antitrust investigation (or enforcement action) against Google in Europe is currently focused on shopping search. There’s an earlier stage, but parallel investigation of Android is now taking off. Comments from regulators and European politicians suggest there’s a potentially long road ahead for Google and many investigations to come. Indeed, a more formal local search […]
Yahoo & Google Together Again In New Search Deal
Three-year deal to put Google's results and ads into some of Yahoo's search results needs US Department of Justice approval and still might get vetoed by India or EU action.
German Newspaper Publisher Trying To Bring Failed “Google Tax” To All Of Europe
Disruptive technologies are often met with lobbying efforts to block them by vested interests trying to preserve the status quo. One such example is the unsuccessful effort by taxi companies to use the law to hold back Uber’s advance, especially in Europe. Another is the European newspaper industry’s efforts to boost sagging revenues with strict […]
Google Comes Out Swinging, Denies All Antitrust Charges In Shopping Search
In a formal filing and in a companion blog post by Google SVP and General Counsel Kent Walker, Google has vigorously denied that it has abused its market position in search. Instead, it characterized its actions and UI changes as directed toward quality and improving the user experience. In the blog post entitled “improving quality […]
SearchCap: Google Gets More Time To Respond To EU, 6 Local SEO Stats & PPC Ad Tips
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the Web. From Search Engine Land: Google Maps Plus Codes Now Searchable, Making Hard-To-Find Places Easier To Locate Google’s Open Location Codes can now be searched on both Google and Google Maps. Is Google Experimenting With Bringing […]
Google Asks Europe For More Time To Respond To Antitrust Charges
According to the Wall Street Journal, Google has been given extra time (until August 31) to respond to the European Commission’s antitrust charges. The original deadline was August 17, next Monday; however, Google requested additional time. Notwithstanding historical complaints about maps/local and other vertical areas, for the present, the “Statement of Objections” (formal antitrust charges) […]
War And Peace: Bloomberg’s Massive History Of Google’s EU Antitrust Case
If you want a history of Google’s search battles with European antitrust regulators, a new article from Brad Stone (and colleagues) at Bloomberg will more than satisfy you. While there’s very little truly new information, the well-researched (and lengthy) piece is nearly comprehensive and captures all the intrigue, as well as the evolving nature of the dispute. The article is provocatively […]
SearchCap: Mobilegeddon Is Coming, AdWords Campaign Reporting, France Wants Open Algorithm
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google Web History Adds Download Option & Drops Filter Options Google makes two large updates to Google Web History, you can no longer filter the results but you can now export […]
France Trying To Force Disclosure Of Google Algorithm, Wants To Regulate the SERP
Not waiting for the European Commission’s Statement of Objections (antitrust charges) to run its course, France is taking action to regulate Google’s search results and also compel revelation of its search algorithm. TechCrunch reported on a bill now working its way through the French legislature. According to an earlier Financial Times article (FT) about the bill: The French senate is likely to adopt a […]
Google Cites Incorrect Traffic Data In Response Post To EU Antitrust Charges
Company argued Guardian and Yelp got more direct traffic than they actually do.
Problems & Solutions: Analyzing The EU’s Antitrust Charges Against Google Over Shopping Search
The EU has raised four concerns about how Google has dominated shopping search. A close look at each charge and possible fixes that might emerge.
EU Antitrust Charges Filed Against Google, Focus On Comparison Shopping Only
Complaint leaves out other vertical search categories, for now.
SearchCap: Flickr Search, Yahoo Knowledge Graph, Bing Ads App & EU vs Google
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Reports: EU To File Formal Antitrust Charges Against Google This Week Company could face billions in fines if Commission decides to impose them. Identify and Eliminate Your R.O.T. Content – April […]
Reports: EU To File Formal Antitrust Charges Against Google This Week
Company could face billions in fines if Commission decides to impose them.
SearchCap: AdWords Phone Verification, EU Google Antitrust & Google Paid Search Up
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google’s Steady Gains In Paid Search Location Tracking A Win-Win Over the past year, Google has greatly improved its ability to track user locations at ever more granular levels. Columnist Andy […]
Report: EU Preparing To File Formal Antitrust Charges Against Google
Company could face billions in potential fines, up to 10 percent of revenue.
Oh No They Didn’t: European Parliament Calls For Break Up Of Google
Today, many Americans were busy preparing Thanksgiving meals or getting ready to travel to the homes of friends and family to celebrate the holiday. But Google certainly won’t be giving thanks for the European Parliament’s vote in favor of a resolution to “unbundle” Google’s search engine from the rest of its business. The widely anticipated, non-binding vote calls upon […]
German Legislator Calling For Google Breakup Has Serious Conflict Of Interest
The German member of the European Parliament behind the call to break up Google, Andreas Schwab, has a conflict of interest. According to the NY Times, he has ties to and earns money from a German law firm that represents anti-Google publishing interests in Germany. German publishers lobbied for the passage of the “ancillary copyright” law […]
Europeans Have Authority To Seek Google Break Up Though Unlikely To Do So
Break Google up. That’s the thrust of a “non-binding” resolution the European Parliament is expected to adopt at some point in the near future, according to a report on Friday from Reuters. The recommendation is likely to be to separate Google’s search engine from the rest of the business. Needless to say, if this were to come to pass it […]
Google’s Eric Schmidt: “Really, Our Biggest Search Competitor Is Amazon”
The attitudes of European policy makers toward Google seem to have hardened of late. On various regulatory fronts, Google faces vocal critics and well-organized opposition. Google’s Eric Schmidt gave a speech earlier today in Berlin seeking to change some of those hardened hearts and minds. Schmidt argued that Google is not only not a monopoly […]
SearchCap: Google AdWords Inventory, EU-Google Antitrust & MapQuest Commute App
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google Now Lets Travelers Know When Flight Prices Drop Google is helping travelers save money with a new Now card that tells users when a price has dropped on a flight. […]
EU Antitrust Endgame Looking More Murky, Risky For Google
The Wall Street Journal added more color to the unfolding story of the collapse of the Google-European Commission antitrust settlement. Notwithstanding denials by outgoing competition czar Joaquín Almunia, it’s clear that pressure from major European publishers, rivals and politicians undermined the deal. We’re in something of a “now what?” moment. If a settlement cannot be […]
German Official: Google Should Reveal Its Ranking Algorithm
One of the unanswered questions in the ongoing European-Google antitrust saga is what concrete changes or concessions critics want (or will accept) from Google. One of those things may have just come to light in a Financial Times interview with German justice minister Heiko Maas. Maas asserts in the interview that Google needs to become more “transparent” about its algorithm and […]
SearchCap: Ditching Ranking Reports, EU Publishers Threaten To Sue Google & More
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: On Average, 171 Health Insurance Advertisers Bid On Same Top Keywords In Google Health insurance advertisers spent more than $103 million on Google AdWords in the U.S. in the first half […]
Publishers To EC: We Want More From Google Or We’ll Sue
As we discussed last week, the current Europe-Google antitrust settlement is dead. This is a surprising turn of events considering that it was once described by European regulators as essentially a done deal. Outgoing European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia confirmed last week in a talk at Georgetown University that a deal could not be finalized before he leaves office in a […]
SearchCap: Google EU Antitrust, Google Algorithms & Third-Party PLAs
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google Brings PLAs To Third-Party Sites Like Walmart.com Today, Google announced it is extending its popular product listing ads (PLAs) to retail and e-commerce sites across the Google Search Network. The […]
Google’s Current EU-Antitrust Settlement Appears Dead
Without immediate, new concessions from Google, it appears that the company will not be able to finalize an antitrust settlement with the European Commission before antitrust chief Joaquin Almunía leaves office in November. It’s almost certain that a stronger Google critic will succeed him making a future settlement even tougher. A few months ago, after […]
SearchCap: SEO Industry Survey, New AdWords Policy & Report On SEO Ranking Factors
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Industry Survey: 37% Of SEOs Saw Less Than $30,000 In Revenue Turnover Since Last Year According to an industry survey by local search firm BrightLocal, a majority of SEOs experienced less […]
Google Pushes Back Against EU Publisher PR Offensive
Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt took to the Google Europe Blog this weekend to defend his company against a Europe-wide ad campaign that asserts Google has abused its dominant market position in search. It’s essentially a public appeal on the same terms being argued to the European Commission for why Google needs to be restrained. […]
SearchCap: Bing Xiaolce, Google Sitelinks Search & EU-Google Deal Problems
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Bing Launches Xiaolce Chinese Chatbot With Cortana Smarts For Windows Phone After taking its Windows Phone 8.1 with Cortana to China last month, Bing announced today the launch of XiaoIce (“little […]
EU-Google Antitrust Deal May Be Collapsing
Since the first Google antitrust settlement proposal was announced in 2013 the company’s rivals and critics have complained loudly that it doesn’t go far enough to remedy what they see as Google’s unjustified “diversion” of their traffic to Google’s own “vertical” properties. They’ve lobbied regulators and produced white papers and PR campaigns aimed at undoing […]
SearchCap: Google AdWords Callouts, Bing Ads Close Variants & Getty Images Sues Over Bing Image Widget
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Getty Images Sues Microsoft For “Massive Infringement” Of Copyright By Bing Image Widget It didn’t take long for Bing’s new Image Widget to come under fire for alleged copyright infringement. The […]