Report: EU antitrust unit exploring broader local search complaint against Google
The focus now moves to travel, hotels and restaurants.
Topic: European Commissioner for Competition
SearchCap: Google mobile-first indexing notices, Bing AMP for news & Google Ads call reporting
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 floods webmasters with ‘mobile-first indexing enabled’ notificationsSep 20, 2018 by Barry Schwartz Did you get a notice from Google that your site is now enabled for mobile-first indexing? You’re not […]
Google’s antitrust infringement continues ‘unabated’, Google Shopping competitors tell European Commission
Four months in, 19 rivals say too little has changed.
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 […]
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 […]
Google Publishes Full Text Of EU Antitrust Agreement
This afternoon on its European Blog, Google’s General Counsel Kent Walker exposed the full text of the company’s third-proposed and tentatively accepted antitrust settlement agreement with European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia. Almunia previously declined to make the full agreement available. The document, dated January 31, 2014, is quite long (embedded below) and contains extensive examples of […]
Google To Get EU “Watchdog” As Part Of Antitrust Settlement
The New York Times is reporting that as part of the anticipated antitrust settlement in Europe Google is likely to be subject to a “watchdog” overseer. This role is explained in a “96-page [job] description” according to the paper: Among the details of the job: The title is monitoring trustee. And although the salary remains […]
Dear Google Rivals: Do These New Proposals Solve Your Antitrust Concerns? Love, The EU
Three years into its investigation of Google over antitrust issues relating to search, the European Union took another step closer toward a likely resolution, asking Google rivals and other third-parties to review a settlement proposal. Notably, the general public wasn’t invited to participate. The news comes via several reports today. The European Union’s Competition agency posted […]
Google (Finally) Gives EU A Formal Settlement Proposal As UK Mapping Rival Files Anti-Competitive Suit
Google has formally submitted its antitrust settlement proposal to the EU. Wait, didn’t that happen weeks ago? Apparently, it did not. While the parties have been talking for months (seems like years), Bloomberg reported today that Google had “formalized” its settlement proposal to avoid potential fines and other penalties. EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia is now […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 9, 2013
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the Web. From Search Engine Land: The Date: Enhanced Campaigns Rollover Starts July 22 Paid search managers: mark your calendars. Buried toward the bottom of today’s announcement on ad group-level mobile bids becoming available in enhanced campaigns […]
EU Leans Toward “Labeling” To Resolve Antitrust Claims Against Google
Those hoping for aggressive regulation or changes in the way Google conducts its search business in Europe will likely be disappointed. A new interview with EU Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia hints at settlement proposals and remedies now being considered in the Google antitrust case. And, they will probably look a lot like what came out of […]
Europeans Taking Sweet Time In Resolving Antitrust Case With Google
Google’s antitrust case in the US concluded in January, much to the dismay of companies that had been agitating for tough action by the FTC. It was seen as a near total victory for Google. Rivals quickly turned their attention to Europe in the hope that, unencumbered by some of the legal issues that inhibited US regulators, it […]
US, European Antitrust Regulators To Confer On Google Case
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the top two US and European antitrust regulators will meet in Europe next week to compare notes and discuss potential outcomes. Both are negotiating with Google to settle antitrust claims that would avoid formal legal action. The FTC’s Chairman Jon Leibowitz will meet with the EU’s Joaquin Almunia. […]
Report: Google Seeks To Avoid EU’s Antitrust Wrath By “Labeling” Its Own Services
The Financial Times (FT) is reporting that the thrust of Google’s antitrust settlement proposal to European Competition Czar Joaquín Almunia primarily involves “labeling” its own services to distinguish them from other organic search results. According to the FT, citing “people familiar with the search giant’s submission”: Under the proposal, Google would put its brand on any […]
Google Antitrust “Settlement” Take Two: Not Quite Yet
On the basis of statements and representations made in a Financial Times report, I wrote a post yesterday entitled “Google Strikes Antitrust Deal With EU, Avoids Legal Battle.” But it’s clear 24 hours later that it was premature to make such sweeping statements and declare the case “settled” in Europe. A Reuters article today makes […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, July 20, 2012
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Search In Pics: Marissa Mayers Yahoo Baby Gift & Goodbye Google Balloons, Android Nail Polish & Chrome Hats In this week’s Search In Pictures, here are the latest images culled from […]
EU Anti-Trust Regulator Raises Mobile As An Issue In Talks With Google
As anti-trust talks between the European Union and Google come close to a conclusion, the key anti-trust enforcer has brought up a new objection. Joaquín Almunia, the EU’s competition commissioner, is demanding the company make broad changes to its mobile services, according to a report in the Financial Times. Google and the European Union have […]
Feds Ready To Approve Google-ITA Deal — With Ongoing Government Oversight
After months of lobbying and speculation the US appears ready to approve Google’s $700 million acquisition of travel software company ITA, with some interesting “safeguards” or provisions. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Justice Department approval of the deal would come with ongoing monitoring of the deal by regulators: Google Inc. and the Justice […]
German Data Protection Commissioner Opposes Google-DoubleClick Deal
German official says ‘nein’ to Google-DoubleClick deal from News.com reports that Germany’s data protection commissioner has come out against the Google / DoubleClick acquisition.