Google Promises To Play Nice To Avoid EU Fines

Google to make ‘significant’ changes to avoid EU fine

Tech-giant Google promised to make a series of far-reaching changes to its popular search on Wednesday, as part of a settlement reached with EU anti-trust authorities.

After a three-year investigation, the authorities found that Google had treated its competitors unfairly, by giving its own products higher rankings than the products of its competitors in its promoted results; nevertheless, the agreement allows Google to avoid being charged with any wrongdoing and to avoid billions of dollars in fines.

Google has promised to change the way its search results work in Europe. It has agreed to give competitors more prominent placement in search engine rankings. The settlement requires Google to display results from three of its competitors in its promoted results whenever a result from one of its own products appeared. The competitors would be required to pay Google for this placement.

Several of Google’s competitors were unhappy with the terms of the settlement. Microsoft voiced the concern that the investigations into Google’s conduct did not go far enough. They also also expressed concern over the effectiveness of the measures taken by the EU in reducing Google’s search engine dominance. Therefore, they asked to submit their own proposals.

on the web
Google to make ‘significant’ changes to avoid EU fine
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26047446

Google Reaches Deal to Settle European Antitrust Case
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/technology/google-reaches-tentative-antitrust-settlement-with-european-union.html?_r=0