On Thursday, the FTC finally made the announcement about the investigation into Google’s alleged anticompetitive behavior. Investigations are now closed. The Commission does not pursing antitrust litigation, and I escaped without punishment, and made some minor changes to the volunteer search business. Many people think Google dropped the light, while others think that even Google had to make amendments. Either way, for now, Google has the FTC from behind it (although it is the European Commission to worry about).
Do you think Google acquired easily? Too hard FTC on Google? Let us know what you think.
Google has agreed to change some business practices to resolve issues including patents relevant FTC and the FTC what it alls “abuse of patent protection to prevent competition.”
“We stopped the abuse,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz in a press conference.
“The changes that Google has agreed to do is to ensure that consumers continue to reap the benefits of competition in the online market and the market for innovative wireless devices that they visit,” said Leibowitz. “This is a very thorough investigation and careful Commission, and the result is a series of strong agreement and enforceable.”
“We are very pleased to see that Google is a life commitment to standards-essential patent license, which will ensure that the company wants to license the patent to compete in the market for wireless devices,” Leibowitz added. “This decision reinforces the standard-setting process in the midst of changes in the technology market today.”
Search, Leibowitz said, “It does not violate U.S. antitrust laws,” so the FTC decided not to act on allegations of searches, although Google has agreed to make some adjustments.
“The evidence was found by the FTC investigation intense urges us to require significant changes to Google’s business practices. However, on the specific allegations that the company bias search results to harm competition, the evidence gathered to date does not warrant legal action by the Commission, “said Beth Wilkinson, outside counsel to the Commission. “Not guilty, Google has taken aggressive action to gain an advantage over rival search providers. However, the FTC’s mission to protect competition, not individual competitors. The evidence does not show that the action on the Google restrain competition in violation of U.S. law. ‘
About search bias, the FTC said in a press release:
FTC conduct an extensive investigation into allegations that Google manipulates its search algorithm to ruin vertical sites and promoting fair competition vertical features themselves, a practice commonly known as In particular, the FTC “search bias.” Google evaluates the introduction of “Universal Search” – products which clearly displays the features of Google’s targeted in response to a particular category search, such as shopping and local – to determine if Google products used to reduce or eliminate the competitive threat of a new born. Similarly, the investigation focused on allegations that Google changed its search algorithm under several vertical sites in an effort to reduce or eliminate the competitive threat of a new born. According to the Commission’s statement, however, Forrester FTC that the introduction of Universal Search, as well as additional changes are made to Google’s search algorithm – even those who may have a detrimental effect individual competitors – can be justified as a reasonable innovations that improve Google products and the experience of its users. Because it has been chosen to close the investigation.
We met near the checkpoint in Public Policy Blog, where Chief Legal Officer David Drummond wrote, “Larry and Sergey founded Google because they believe that the development of an efficient search experience will improve human life. And in the decade-plus that followed, I have worked hard to make it faster and easier for users to find what they need. In the early days you want to type a query, we will refund 10 blue links and you can click on them individually to see what you want. Now we can save you even bother to give a direct answer to your question, as well as links to other sites. So if you type [for San Francisco], or [tom hanks film], we now give the answer of a results page as a really good looking is all about how to turn off the need to act in a blink of an eye. ‘
Drummond wrote a letter (pdf) to the FTC discussed two specific changes to the product. In the post, he concluded them: “You website to opt out of Google Search, and they are now able to remove the content (such as reviews) from customized pages of search results, such as local, travel and shopping,” and, “Advertisers can export their advertising campaigns from Google AdWords. They now mix and copy data service advertising campaign in third party using the AdWords API. ‘
“We have always accepted that the success of regulatory oversight,” said Drummond. “But we found that the FTC and other authorities to look into Google’s business practices, including the U.S. Department of Justice (ITA Software in this review), the U.S. courts (in SearchKing and Kinderstart case), and the Brazilian courts (in one case in ago) we had to Forrester free to combine direct response web results. So we went in 2013, we are excited about the ability to make changes for the benefit of users everywhere. ‘
Leibowitz said Google will stop scraping content rivals to use their own custom searches, and make a “commitment law applied to” include reporting requirements that allow them to monitor.
The decision to close the investigation search has reached unanimously. Leibowitz acknowledged that they can always reopen the investigation if they feel they need.
He also acknowledged that “some evidence” suggesting that Google is trying to eliminate the competition, but the algorithm changes the FTC looks deemed “reasonable related to improving search results,” especially when competitors try to “game” the algorithm.
He also mentioned that the Google search engine rival in contact with “a lot of the same options in product design” is Google. While not all Google did was beneifcial, he said, “on balance,” the evidence does not support the FTC challenge Google skills.
He went on to call Google’s “one of the great American,” and quoted the driverless car and “augmented reality Eyewear”.
Now, he said, Google can refocus the business and products, while understanding the need to compete fairly.
Shortly after the announcement, FairSearch released a statement about it. Here is an example of:
“The decision to close the investigation with the FTC only voluntary commitments from Google is disappointing and premature, coming just weeks before the company expects formal and detailed proposal to address the abuse of dominance four identified by the European Commission, first among them susceptible featuring its own properties in search results , “the group said it did rival Google (which includes a number of travel websites, such as Microsoft and Oracle).
“The FTC settlement does not mean the last word in this case, leaving the FTC without a major role in the final settlement for the investigation of anti-competitive practices by Google state attorneys general and the European Commission,” the FairSearch. “The FTC’s inaction on the basic question of finding bias only embolden Google to act more aggressively to abuse its monopoly power to harm other innovators.”
“State attorney general who reportedly disagreed with the FTC announcement has an important role to play in ensuring both that Google is not allowed to continue the practices that harm any American business with artificially high advertising costs, and the requirement that any change in Europe Google forced to apply for U.S. consumers to the risk of loss due to changes in violation of Google’s aggressive dominance, “said the group.
Consumer Watchdog weighed in the decision. The group says the song failed to end Google “the most anti-competitive practices,” and referred to as the Justice Department and state attorneys general to “go ahead to end monopolistic behavior in the Internet giant in the results,” something the FTC found that violations of the law U.S. antitrust.
“Google is clearly skewed search results to favor its own products and services as well as describing the objective results. It undermines competition and harm consumers, “said John M. Simpson, director of the Privacy Project team. “FTC combined for Google. They accept Google executive commitment ‘to change both skill does not even require the approval of the agreement, but Google has a track record of appointments. Do not forget, this fall FTC Google fined $ 22.5 million for violating the agreement for approval. Why Google FTC His word? ‘
Inc.com suggests that life will continue pretty much as usual for small businesses because of the decision, but that, “You can expect the software and services out to let you more easily manage online ad campaigns in advertising platform. ‘
What do you think about the decision of the FTC? Let us know in the comments.
Today’s Google Doodle is an interesting little game that puts you in the driver’s seat of the opponent as possible. True, there are hockey players and figure skaters in the game – but you can not control them. Instead, you have a Zamboni driver, in charge of smoothing the ice fisticuffs.
