Google Could Face Heavy Antitrust Fines In the EU 292
SquarePixel writes "Europe's competition watchdog is considering formal proceedings against Google over antitrust complaints about the way it promotes its own services in search results, potentially exposing the company to a fine of 10 percent of its global turnover. Google is accused of using its search service to direct users to its own services and to reduce the visibility of competing websites and services. If the Commission found Google guilty of breaking E.U. competition rules, it could restrict Google's business activities in Europe and fine the company up to 10 percent of its annual global revenue (US$37.9 billion last year)."
Re:EU needs money to give to Greece (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Accepted Industry Practice (Score:2, Interesting)
Bing does this as well, I do not think it is particularly fair to start fining people for doing something that has been going on and in the open since internet searches were first born.
In the early days no one had monopoly influence on the market. Antitrust laws have been on the books since the 1800's without much change. If Google doesn't have lawyers and businessmen that understand them they should dissolve the company now as their incompetence is staggering. If Google did go ahead and leverage their influence in search, they knew what they were doing and deserve to be smacked down for it because they were breaking the law and hoping to lawyer their way out of it.
Re:EU are on crack (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm not clear as to how Google is a monopoly. It does not control the physical or electronic structure of the Internet. Web searching certainly cannot be considered a natural monopoly. It can't stop competing web services.
So how can Google maintain any kind of abusive monopoly.
Google can become an abusive monopoly because of where the money comes from. If a competitor tries to enter the market (ad supported services), Google could tell its customers (companies advertising products) that if they work with the Google competitor, Google will stop doing business with them. That would prevent any competition for Google, which would result in EU citizens not having a free market of competing services.
Oh, and you start out by asking about natural monopolies and then finish with abusive monopolies. Which one are you more concerned about? Please be consistent.
Re:EU needs money to give to Greece (Score:1, Interesting)
No it would not because you are not taking into the account modification of behaviour.
If you do that, you'll simply end most of the financial transactions that can be taxed, some will find new homes and some will just disappear. Most of the smaller traders in the markets will disappear, for who 0.5% is definitely the game killer, they can't make a profit on average if that type of confiscatory tax is applied, and it is confiscatory in case of most traders.
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(all of this sets aside the obvious issue of lack of morality of such behavior - confiscation of private property via income taxes)
Re:Google is Evil (Score:0, Interesting)
Parent here.
1) I never said Google should cut MapQuest a check for no reason. You are putting words in my mouth.That was the second time you've done it, shill. Stop it.
2) The words you put in my mouth just further support my argument because they implicitly agree with my point. Why would inserting MapQuest maps into search results mean cutting a huge check to MapQuest? Simple - because Google has a monopoly on search and any map maker that gets specially bundled in Google's results is bound to reap the financial rewards. Since Google only allows their own products to be specially bundled, Google is thus using their search monopoly to push into new areas and kill of competitors.
Thank you for agreeing with me.
Also, Slashdot now mods up comments that literally include "fuck you". It's funny to see how pathetic the site has become. Completely overrun by shills and fanboys. Nobody cares about actual technology or intelligent discource. I guess that's why Slashdot used to be so influential and now is just a small fish in a big pond.