EU: Getty Images is a part of the antitrust investigation into Google

Photo agency Getty Images has been added as an “interested third person” to the European Commission’s antitrust investigation into Google, according to reports.Google is accused of distorting search results in favour of its own services, including Google Shopping, Maps and several others, affecting competitors from travel sites to price comparison companies.

Getty filed an antitrust complaint over Google’s image search, which could lead to the EC expanding its investigations to include the service, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The photo agency has complained that searches for images through a standard Google search box heavily feature results from Google’s own image search service. Getty argues that this high prominence drives more traffic to Google at the detriment of Getty and other services. It also claims that Google Images’ display of photos from sites and publishers, instead of original licensed content, is bad for consumers.

Full content: The Wall Street Journal

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