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EU: Google concessions leaked

By  |  November 6, 2013

News outlets are reporting they have received a leaked version of Google’s second round of proposed concessions given to the European Commission as part of efforts to end the EU’s investigation into Google’s alleged anticompetitive business practices.

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    According to reports, an unnamed source has leaked European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia’s request for comment regarding Google’s offer, which includes 15 questions sent to various competitors of the conglomerate as well as a copy of Google’s proposal.

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    Reports say rivals’ complaints regarding the case include the narrowness of Almunia’s questionnaire.

    As for Google’s settlement offer, reports say the language is less ambiguous with fewer loopholes, though the message remains largely unchanged. Among Google’s previous offers was the proposal to eliminate advertisers’ exclusivity clauses in contracts, among others. In its revised concessions, reports say Google has offered to include three links to rival search engine sites amid its results to quell competition concerns that Google abuses its dominance.

    While the source remains anonymous, reports say the documents were leaked because their confidentiality was considered, by the source, as a “muzzle” on the public and an “unlawful abuse of process.”

    Full content: The Register and PC World

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