Google dealing with Microsoft criticism
Alleging that Google is limiting its access to critical data it needs to compete using YouTube and other Google services to the detriment of European customers, Microsoft filed a formal antitrust complaint in Europe against Google. The European Union Competitive Commission is doing an antitrust investigation towards Google already that Microsoft is now behind. Google controls about 95 percent of the Internet search market in Europe while Microsoft's search engine, Bing, swims with the other minnows. Advertisers in Europe are just accustomed to using Google now. There have been complaints about competition and antitrust in Europe by many individuals already. After fighting antitrust investigations into Windows and billions in fines from the European Commission for years, Microsoft has reversed roles with its grievance against Google.
Bing upsets Google
Background technologies that give one access to Google products such as “application programming interfaces” are the center of Microsoft’s European antitrust grievance. Microsoft alleges that Google fiddles with the application programming interfaces to interfere with access to YouTube by Bing and other competing search engines, thus herding their users toward Google. The Windows Phones cannot work with YouTube very well because of Google’s programming, Microsoft suggests; which isn't a problem on the iPhone or Android. There's an issue with the Windows phones only because Apple is not in the competition. Bing is in the search engine industry with Google making Microsoft a target. The EU antitrust is already looking into the idea that Google blocks advertisers needed for optimization which is another claim Microsoft has.
Issue Google faces in Europe
An EU Commission spokesman said it will give Google a possibility to tell its side of the story. Google has said the restraint on third-party software is to maintain the consistency of Google’s ad service and that advertisers are allowed unfettered access to data. Microsoft is involved. This means the stakes are much higher. Google could face a fine of up to 10 percent of annual global revenues, which exceeded $29 billion last year. It could also be forced to change the way it does business in Europe. The European Union commission said that Google would be able to defend itself and keep away from a fine by changing its business in Europe before Microsoft got involved.
Information from
Associated Press
finance.yahoo.com/news/Microsoft-throws-weight-apf-1337664829.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=6&asset=&ccode=
Los Angeles Times
latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/03/microsoft-files-european-antitrust-complaint-against-google.html
New York Times
nytimes.com/2011/04/01/technology/01google.html?src=busln
Resource for this article - Microsoft adds complaint to EU antitrust investigation of Google by MoneyBlogNewz.
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