FTC Slaps Google's Wrist in Search, Patent Probe
12 years, 2 months ago

FTC Slaps Google's Wrist in Search, Patent Probe

Wired  

Federal regulators concluded Thursday a 19-month probe into Google's search and patent-licensing practices, and in the end took no action against Google's search rankings that favor its own products over competitors. "They hadn't engaged in illegal monopolization and hadn't violated the FTC Act," Jon Leibowitz, the commission's chairman, said at a news conference while referring to Google's search algorithm. Regarding Google search, the chairman pointed out that Google "allegedly" scraped user-generated restaurant reviews from Yelp "and led consumers to believe that these reviews were its own." When websites complained of the practice, he said, "Google allegedly threatened to remove them entirely from Google's search results." "Going forward, Google will allow websites the ability to opt out of appearing in its vertical properties like Google Local or Product Shopping, without being penalized or demoted in its general search results on Google.com," the chairman said.

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History of this topic

Google urges US government to avoid breaking up firm: Report
3 weeks ago

Google urges US government to avoid breaking up firm: Report

Deccan Chronicle  

Google met with President Donald Trump's government last week and urged them to back away from a push to break up the search engine company, according to a person familiar with the matter. As we've publicly said, we're concerned the current proposals would harm the American economy and national security," a Google spokesperson said. The department has laid out potential …

Google must face part of US consumer lawsuit over search dominance
2 months, 1 week ago

Google must face part of US consumer lawsuit over search dominance

The Hindu  

Google has failed to persuade a judge in California to throw out a lawsuit accusing the technology giant of monopolising the online search market. San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge Rita Lin in a ruling on Thursday said consumers can proceed for now with allegations that the Alphabet unit's business practices hampered the development of high-quality rival search engines. The lawsuit …

An ‘industry behemoth.’ Inside the federal government’s efforts to break up Google
2 months, 2 weeks ago

An ‘industry behemoth.’ Inside the federal government’s efforts to break up Google

LA Times  

In its early days, the quirky tech startup known as Google adopted a visionary corporate credo: “Don’t be evil.” That later evolved into the motto: “Do the right thing,” reflecting the idealistic ambitions of the company’s founders that its technology could be a force for good. But more than two decades later, Google is confronting a starkly different view of …

Apple seeks to defend Google's billion-dollar payments in search case
3 months ago

Apple seeks to defend Google's billion-dollar payments in search case

The Hindu  

Apple has asked to participate in Google's upcoming U.S. antitrust trial over online search, saying it cannot rely on Google to defend revenue-sharing agreements that send the iPhone maker billions of dollars each year for making Google the default search engine on its Safari browser. Apple does not plan to build its own search engine to compete with Alphabet's Google, …

Google offers to loosen search deals in US antitrust case remedy
3 months ago

Google offers to loosen search deals in US antitrust case remedy

The Hindu  

Alphabet's Google proposed on Friday a loosening of its agreements with Apple and others to set Google as the default search engine on new devices, in a bid to address a U.S. ruling that it unlawfully dominates online search. That is especially true "in an environment where remarkable artificial intelligence innovations are rapidly changing how people interact with many online …

Why the US forced sale of Google's Chrome faces legal hurdles
Trending News
4 months ago

Why the US forced sale of Google's Chrome faces legal hurdles

India TV News  

Efforts by U.S. antitrust regulators to break up Alphabet by forcing a sale of its Google Chrome browser and other proposals to limit its search dominance are likely to run into legal challenges on grounds the remedies are extreme. Google called the DOJ's approach "unprecedented government overreach that would harm American consumers, developers, and small businesses," giving as examples diminished …

What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly
4 months ago

What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday by …

What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google’s search monopoly
4 months ago

What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google’s search monopoly

Associated Press  

U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled Google maintained an illegal monopoly for the last decade. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Justice could radically alter Google’s business, including possibly spinning off the Chrome web browser and syndicating its search data …

Google must sell Chrome to end search monopoly, US prosecutors argue
4 months ago

Google must sell Chrome to end search monopoly, US prosecutors argue

Al Jazeera  

The Department of Justice said Google had ‘deprived rivals’ of opportunities to expand their search engine market share. In a court filing on Wednesday, the US Department of Justice argued that Google, which controls about 90 percent of the online search market, should not be allowed to re-enter the browser market for five years and should sell its Android mobile …

Google could be forced to sell off Chrome by U.S. DOJ: Report
4 months, 1 week ago

Google could be forced to sell off Chrome by U.S. DOJ: Report

The Hindu  

The U.S. Department of Justice will ask a judge to force Alphabet's Google to sell off its Chrome internet browser, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the plans. The DOJ will also ask the judge, who ruled in August that Google illegally monopolized the search market, to require measures related to artificial intelligence and its Android smartphone …

Court challenges to Google's search supremacy an 'existential threat' — so how could it be split up?
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Court challenges to Google's search supremacy an 'existential threat' — so how could it be split up?

ABC  

Google's monopoly on search is clear. This deal saw Google pay Apple a slice of advertising revenue, in return for preloading its search engine as the exclusive default on Apple's Safari browser. The court ultimately ruled that Google had broke the law by "maintaining a monopoly" on search. "The result of that case is that it cleared a space for …

A US Judge Ruled That Google Is an Illegal Monopolist. Here's What Might Come Next
55 years, 2 months ago

A US Judge Ruled That Google Is an Illegal Monopolist. Here's What Might Come Next

Wired  

Unbox a new phone in the US and it's almost certain to have Google as the default way to search the web. Federal judge Amit Mehta on Monday ruled in favor of the US Department of Justice that the contracts Google uses to secure that position violate fair competition laws. Mehta scheduled a hearing for September to begin the process …

Google Has Acted As A Monopoly, Violated Competition Illegally: US Judge Says About Company's Practices
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Google Has Acted As A Monopoly, Violated Competition Illegally: US Judge Says About Company's Practices

News 18  

Google has once again made the headlines regarding its search monopoly in the market and how it has been able to pump billions into the segment illegally and push competition way behind. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta on Monday ruled that Google had violated antitrust law by spending billions of dollars to secure exclusive agreements with developers, carriers and equipment …

Google has illegal monopoly over internet search, US judge rules
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Google has illegal monopoly over internet search, US judge rules

Al Jazeera  

The case depicted Google as a technological bully that methodically thwarted competition to protect its search engine. Google’s search engine processes an estimated 8.5 billion queries every day worldwide, nearly double its daily volume from 12 years ago, according to a recent study by investment firm BOND. Google’s global affairs president, Kent Walker, said the company would appeal the ruling, …

Google Search Is an Illegal Monopoly, US Judge Rules
55 years, 2 months ago

Google Search Is an Illegal Monopoly, US Judge Rules

Wired  

Google is now 0 for 2 in antitrust trials. United States district judge Amit Mehta ruled on Monday that Google has unlawfully maintained its dominance in search by using anticompetitive deals to keep rivals from gaining traction. “The trial evidence firmly established that Google’s monopoly power, maintained by the exclusive distribution agreements, has enabled Google to increase text ads prices …

Google loses major antitrust case over search, declared a monopoly by judge
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Google loses major antitrust case over search, declared a monopoly by judge

LA Times  

In a major blow to Google, a federal judge on Monday ruled that the tech giant violated antitrust laws by illegally maintaining a monopoly on web searches. “As this process continues, we will remain focused on making products that people find helpful and easy to use.” Regulators alleged that Google maintained a monopoly on web searches by reaching agreements with …

Google abused its power to maintain monopoly on search, US court rules
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Google abused its power to maintain monopoly on search, US court rules

The Telegraph  

Google abused its power to maintain an illegal monopoly over the online search market, a US judge has ruled. Kent Walker, president of Google global affairs, said the company planned to appeal and said: “This decision recognizes that Google offers the best search engine, but concludes that we shouldn’t be allowed to make it easily available.” The case was bought …

Google, Justice Department make final arguments about whether search engine is a monopoly
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Google, Justice Department make final arguments about whether search engine is a monopoly

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Google’s preeminence as an internet search engine is an illegal monopoly propped up by more than $20 billion spent each year by the tech giant to lock out competition, Justice Department lawyers argued at the closings of a high-stakes antitrust lawsuit. “It would be an unprecedented decision to punish a company for winning on the merits,” Google’s lawyer, …

Column: Google’s dominance affects us all. Why is its trial being held in secret?
1 year, 4 months ago

Column: Google’s dominance affects us all. Why is its trial being held in secret?

LA Times  

Google: Maker of the best search engine, or just the most popular? Bing’s share is so meager that specialized search providers — think Open Table and TripAdvisor — “have little interest in working with Microsoft, except, perhaps, as an after-thought,” according to the plaintiffs’ pretrial brief. The technical arguments raised at the trial turn on whether Google’s arrangements with the …

It's Google versus the US in the biggest antitrust trial in decades
1 year, 6 months ago

It's Google versus the US in the biggest antitrust trial in decades

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Google will confront a …

US takes on Google: What to know about biggest antitrust trial in decades
1 year, 6 months ago

US takes on Google: What to know about biggest antitrust trial in decades

Al Jazeera  

Google has grabbed a 90 percent market share in search in the US in recent years, the government estimates. A blockbuster antitrust trial is underway in Washington, DC, where the United States Department of Justice and a coalition of state attorneys general have accused Alphabet’s Google of unlawfully abusing its dominance in the search engine market to maintain monopoly power. …

Judge allows key U.S. antitrust Google search claims to go to trial
1 year, 7 months ago

Judge allows key U.S. antitrust Google search claims to go to trial

The Hindu  

A U.S. judge hearing the Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit accusing Google of unlawfully maintaining monopolies in the internet search market let stand key claims made by the federal government. U.S. Judge Amit Mehta in Washington in a decision made public on Friday granted Google's request on some grounds but allowed the remainder of the claims to proceed to trial next …

Google Paid Apple Billions To Dominate Search On iPhones, Justice Department Says
4 years, 5 months ago

Google Paid Apple Billions To Dominate Search On iPhones, Justice Department Says

NPR  

Google Paid Apple Billions To Dominate Search On iPhones, Justice Department Says Enlarge this image toggle caption Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images Buried on Page 36 of the Justice Department lawsuit accusing Google of abusing its monopoly power is this remarkable figure: $8 billion to $12 billion. That's the hefty sum Google allegedly paid Apple …

The US government sues Google for alleged anticompetitive abuses in search
4 years, 5 months ago

The US government sues Google for alleged anticompetitive abuses in search

CNN  

Washington CNN Business — The Trump administration on Tuesday sued Google in what is the largest antitrust case against a tech company in more than two decades. “Nothing is off the table,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, who warned that if DOJ did not file suit now, “we could lose the next wave of innovation” and that “Americans may …

Google Abuses Its Monopoly Power Over Search, Justice Department Says In Lawsuit
4 years, 5 months ago

Google Abuses Its Monopoly Power Over Search, Justice Department Says In Lawsuit

NPR  

Google Abuses Its Monopoly Power Over Search, Justice Department Says In Lawsuit Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images Updated at 3:24 p.m. Justice Department lawyers accuse Google of harnessing its internet gatekeeper role to enrich the company's vast business empire, stifling competitors and hurting consumers through exclusionary agreements, including deals such as the one it …

Tech Antitrust Report: Google Monopolizing Search & Restrictive Android Agreements Concern Regulators
4 years, 5 months ago

Tech Antitrust Report: Google Monopolizing Search & Restrictive Android Agreements Concern Regulators

News 18  

In what can only be described as a first of its kind report, the Subcommittee On Antitrust, Commercial And Administrative Law Of The Committee Of The Judiciary of the US Congress has released its conclusions and recommendations on whether the big tech companies such as Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook are violating the antitrust laws. Google has faced fire in …

Google under scanner over alleged mishandling of customer data
7 years, 4 months ago

Google under scanner over alleged mishandling of customer data

New Indian Express  

WASHINGTON: Tech MNC Google has been brought under the scanner after Missouri’s attorney general Josh Hawley launched an investigation into an alleged mishandling of private customer data and manipulation of search results for personal marketing purposes. The probe follows a fine worth USD 2.7 billion that was levied on Google in June, along with a tighter noose around the influence …

Competition panel accuses Google of abusing search dominance
9 years, 6 months ago

Competition panel accuses Google of abusing search dominance

Live Mint  

Mumbai/ New Delhi: The Competition Commission of India has accused Google Inc of abusing its dominant position in online search, people with knowledge of the matter said, which if proven could force the US company to alter its practices in a key market or even pay a big fine. A preliminary report from the quasi-judicial regulatory body found fault with …

European Union Accuses Google Of Abusing Its Market Dominance
9 years, 11 months ago

European Union Accuses Google Of Abusing Its Market Dominance

NPR  

European Union Accuses Google Of Abusing Its Market Dominance The European Union has been looking into whether Google favors its own products in online searches. SHAPIRO: Well, the European Union has been looking into whether Google favors its own products in online searches because, remember, Google is much more than a search engine. At the same time, this morning, European …

Are Google results free speech protected by the First Amendment?
10 years, 4 months ago

Are Google results free speech protected by the First Amendment?

Slate  

Over the past few years, the Supreme Court has welcomed an unprecedented number of nonhumans into the personhood club. In a recent case, the search engine giant argued that its search results—selected entirely by a computerized algorithm—are free speech and deserve full First Amendment protection. Google has actually been developing its First Amendment defense since at least 2003, fine-tuning it …

US FTC conducting preliminary inquiry into Google's Waze acquisition
11 years, 9 months ago

US FTC conducting preliminary inquiry into Google's Waze acquisition

Firstpost  

Antitrust regulators are conducting a preliminary inquiry into Google Inc’s recent acquisition of online mapping service Waze, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Google was able to close the deal without US regulatory approval because Waze’s revenue and assets in the US were below the $70.9 million threshold required for antitrust review. Google’s existing online mapping service …

US FTC conducting preliminary inquiry into Google's Waze acquisition
11 years, 9 months ago

US FTC conducting preliminary inquiry into Google's Waze acquisition

Firstpost  

Antitrust regulators are conducting a preliminary inquiry into Google Inc’s recent acquisition of online mapping service Waze, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Google was able to close the deal without US regulatory approval because Waze’s revenue and assets in the US were below the $70.9 million threshold required for antitrust review. Google’s existing online mapping service …

EU says its Google case not affected by U.S. ruling
12 years, 2 months ago

EU says its Google case not affected by U.S. ruling

Firstpost  

A decision by U.S regulators to end a probe into whether Google Inc hurt rivals by manipulating internet searches… A decision by U.S regulators to end a probe into whether Google Inc hurt rivals by manipulating internet searches will not affect the European Union’s examination of the company. “We have taken note of the FTC decision, but we don’t see …

Google emerges from FTC probe relatively unscathed
12 years, 2 months ago

Google emerges from FTC probe relatively unscathed

Firstpost  

Google has settled a U.S. government probe into its business practices without making any major concessions… Google has settled a U.S. government probe into its business practices without making any major concessions on how the company runs its Internet search engine, the world’s most influential gateway to digital information and commerce. “However, the FTC’s mission is to protect competition, and …

FTC Closes Google Antitrust Investigation Without Penalties
12 years, 2 months ago

FTC Closes Google Antitrust Investigation Without Penalties

NPR  

FTC Closes Google Antitrust Investigation Without Penalties An antitrust probe of Google by the Federal Trade Commission has ended. The search giant avoided any financial penalties, and the FTC's move is widely seen as a victory for Google. For Google, the biggest treat to its business was that the FTC might decide to bring a formal antitrust case against Google …

US regulators move closer to suing Google
12 years, 5 months ago

US regulators move closer to suing Google

Firstpost  

Federal regulators are moving closer to suing Google over allegations that the company has abused its dominance… Federal regulators are moving closer to suing Google over allegations that the company has abused its dominance of Internet search to stifle competition and drive up online advertising prices, news reports said Friday. The probe was triggered by complaints that Google Inc. has …

Google defends sponsored links in High Court
12 years, 6 months ago

Google defends sponsored links in High Court

ABC  

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has told the High Court that Google is responsible for misleading content in its Google is fighting a ruling that it engaged in misleading conduct when some advertisers used the names of competitors to attract searchers to their links. Lawyers for the ACCC have told the High Court that Google is liable because its …

ACCC wins case over misleading Google links
12 years, 11 months ago

ACCC wins case over misleading Google links

ABC  

The Federal Court has ruled Google breached the law by displaying misleading Consumers who used Google to search for Honda, Harvey World Travel, Alpha Dog Training and Just 4X4 Magazine were presented with ads that led to rival websites. "The enquiry is made of Google and it is Google's response which is misleading," the full court said. "This is an …

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