A PYMNTS Company

EU: Officials dash hopes of revisit to Google settlement

By  |  March 18, 2014

European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia shot down hopes of Google rivals and consumer advocates Tuesday when he told a committee the Commission is unlikely to revisit Almunia’s decision to settle with the search giant, ending a three-year investigation into the company.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    While “the case is still open,” Almunia confirmed, the competition chief spoke at a European Parliament committee to counter criticism to the settlement. The Commission is preparing letters to send to Google complainants, according to reports.

    Critics of the settlement claim the deal will actually worsen the business practices that brought Google under fire in the first place. The company is accused of abusing its market dominance in how it displays rivals’ search results. Google has offered to alter how those results are displayed, among other concessions.

    Almunia said that there is “no doubt” that the case will conclude by the time he leaves the Commission in October.

    Full Content: Wall Street Journal

    Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.