Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Google temporarily settled a three-year antitrust case with the European Union Wednesday that
could've resulted in billions of dollars in fines over search results.
The EU initially launched an investigation in 2010 into the Mountainview, Calif.-based
company over one main problem area: that Google had been unfairly promoting its own search
results and discriminating against competing sites.
The Los Angeles Times writes, "​Microsoft Corp. and other Google rivals had complained
to European regulators that Google was treating rival services differently in search results
than it did its own, squelching competition for restaurant reviews, airfare shopping and
other services."
On Wednesday, the tech company agreed to concessions that would display rivals links alongside
Google's links in European search results, like so. (Via The Wall Street Journal)
The EU wrote in a statement Google's proposed change "provides users with real choice between
competing services presented in a comparable way; it is then up to them to choose the best
alternative."
Not only does Google dodge a bullet with not having to pay fines, but as Bloomberg reports,
competitors will pay Google at least 3 euro cents to bid on spots for that shaded region
that pops up in search results.
According to BBC, a Microsoft-backed lobbying group was none too pleased with the outcome,
saying, "A settlement without third party review is a massive failure. ... We need time
and opportunity to ensure full technical assessment of how effective the proposed remedies would
be."
CNET notes the settlement isn't over just yet. The EU will hear feedback from the original
18 companies that filed complaints against Google. After that, the EU will either ask
for more concessions from Google or make the deal final.