Almunia Posts
FairSearch Statement About Coming ‘Market Test’ Launch
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
The following statement relates to public reports that the European Commission will soon begin a ‘market test’ of Google’s proposal to settle the EC’s investigation into allegations of an illegal abuse of dominance by Google. The most important remedy to Google’s abuse of dominance is to require the search monopoly, which controls 94 percent of Read more »
European Commission, AGs Have Final Word, Not FTC
Friday, January 4th, 2013
As the dust settles after the Federal Trade Commission’s disappointing announcement of its settlement with Google, it is clear that the FTC will not have the last word in determining whether Google’s practices are illegal, and whether the company will have to change them. Google is expected to make a formal, detailed proposal to the Read more »
FairSearch Applauds Almunia For Seeking Binding Commitments From Google
Tuesday, December 18th, 2012
The following is a statement from FairSearch on the European Commission’s investigation of Google: “FairSearch applauds European Commission Vice President Joaquín Almunia for seeking to extract a binding set of commitments from Google to end biased search results and other potential legal violations he has identified, and to submit that proposal for market testing before Read more »
WSJ Op-Ed: Nextag CEO Jeffrey Katz “Google Has Become a Brand Killer”
Friday, June 8th, 2012
Today’s Wall Street Journal published an op-ed from Nextag CEO Jeffrey Katz titled “Google’s Monopoly and Internet Freedom.” In it, Katz outlines how Google has been abusing its monopoly power to charge higher prices for preferred search rankings, distorting the presentation and order of sites listed on its search results page and effectively hampering other Read more »
European Commission: “Users and Competitors would Greatly Benefit from a Quick Resolution”
Friday, June 8th, 2012
Today, at the International Competition Law Forum, European Commission Vice President Joaquín Almunia gave an update on the investigation into “four concerns where Google business practices may be considered as abuses of dominance” (see his letter to Google identifying the potential violations of law). Almunia’s prepared remarks said: “On May 21, I sent a letter to Google underlining our Read more »
FairSearch EU Counsel Thomas Vinje Response to European Commission Statement On Google’s Four Potential Illegal Abuses of Dominance
Monday, May 21st, 2012
Today’s statement by European Commission Vice President Joaquín Almunia, identifying four concerns where Google business practices may be considered as abuses of dominance in violation of competition and consumer protection laws, is a welcome development. We are pleased that Commissioner Almunia’s investigation has validated the concern that FairSearch members and many other businesses and consumer advocates have raised about Google’s practices Read more »
