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EC launches antitrust probe against Google

The European Commission announced today that it's opening an investigation of Google over alleged antitrust practices in the European Union.

The probe was triggered by complaints from three search providers, which claim that Google has stifled them by unfairly manipulating certain factors related to both unpaid and paid search results.

The search providers leveling the charges are Foundem, a U.K. price comparison site; ejustice.fr, a French legal search engine; and Ciao, a U.K. search engine owned by Microsoft. These three Web sites offer vertical search services, which means they provide users with specific online information, such … Read more

EU to investigate Google after complaints

And so it begins: the European Commission has opened an antitrust investigation of Google.

The Telegraph reported late Tuesday that European regulators have sent a letter to Google asking the company to explain how it ranks search results and advertising after complaints from European businesses such as Foundem, a price comparison site, and Ciao, another price comparison site owned by Microsoft. Those companies--Foundem in particular--have long complained that Google penalized their Web sites in search results under competitive pressure.

Google confirmed that it has received an inquiry from European regulators but denied any wrongdoing. "While we will be providing … Read more