On October 9, Google filed an appeal of the European Commission’s (EC’s) record €4.3 billion (roughly $5 billion) antitrust fine, which was imposed in July because of Google Play app pre-install requirements. In the eyes of the EC, the practice of requiring handset makers to pre-install specific Google-made apps as was counted as “an abuse of market position.”  […]

Although Google’s European shopping rivals are continuing to complain about how Google is working, The European Commission chief said that the changes Google has made so far seem to be working.  European Competition Commissioner Margethe Vestager is quoted by Reuters saying that rivals have a greater visibility in search results and there are more clicks that send searchers to […]

Recently, Yelp filed a private antitrust complaint against Google with the European Commission (EC).  Now it’s attempting to appeal to Google’s own employees to agitate for change from within the company. This attempt is both naïve and shrewd at the same time.  Check out the “Focus on the User” video below, which makes several points: Google is an essential tool […]

In a report by the Financial Times (paywall), Yelp is complaining to the European Commission (EC) that Google “abused its dominance in local search” and is seeking a formal Statement of Objections against the company due to antitrust charges. The complaint is almost exactly like the claims that were made against Google in the shopping search context […]

In an announcement made late last week, Google parent Alphabet and Getty Images made a sweeping partnership that ended a long-standing copyright antitrust dispute between Getty and Google, which was filed in early 2016. This deal was characterized by Getty as “a multi-year global licensing partnership, enabling Google to use Getty Images’ content within its various products and services.” […]

On February 8, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined Google $1.36 billion rupees (roughly $21.1 million) for “abuse of its dominant position” in search.  The specific finding made by CCI surrounded Google’s treatment of flight search results.  The decision was 4 to 2 against Google. According to CCI, Google “allocated disproportionate real estate” to the box […]

With the $2.7 billion European Commission antitrust fine against Google that happened last year, the search company opened up product listing ads (PLAs) to rival to rival comparison shopping services.  Google even pledged to operate Google Shopping as if it was a stand-alone entity and to provide “equal treatment” for rivals. When Google implemented the program, it […]

Josh Hawley, Missouri’s Attorney General, reportedly initiated an investigation into whether or not Google violated Missouri consumer protection or antitrust laws. In a press release, it seems that the Missouri Attorney General’s office is looking at data collection, “misappropriation” of third-party content and promotion of “websites owned by Google” to the detriment of third-party competitors: The business practices […]

Google is going to, according to Bloomberg, create a separate business unit that will manage shopping content in search results to comply with European Commission’s recent antitrust decision.  Reportedly, this unit will be required to compete the auction against shopping competitors. It seems that the unit will use its own budget and revenues to bid in the […]

Back in June, the EU fined Google $2.7 billion by the EU for “favoring its own content” in shopping search results.  Reportedly, Google is appealing the decision. But in the meantime, Google has been compelled to propose an alternative presentation of search results to remedy and respond to the EU decision.  Google, according to Reuters, “has offered to display rival […]