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EU: Top publisher bashes Google as ‘superstate’ monopoly

By  |  April 17, 2014

The head of Europe’s largest newspaper publisher, Axel Springer, has sent a letter to Google’s Eric Schmidt, published in Germany Wednesday, slamming the company as a monopoly looking to abuse its dominance to become a “superstate.”

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    Reports say Axel Springer chief executive Mathias Doepfner accused Google of discriminating against rivals in its search rankings and operating a business model that “in less reputable circles would be called a protection racket.”

    He also said Google’s mottle is “if you don’t want us to finish you off, you better pay.”

    The executive questioned the future of the European Commission’s case with Google after probing the company for allegations of anticompetitive behavior yet seemingly set on settling with the firm.

    ”Will European politicians fold or wake up?” Doepfner asked. “Institutions in Brussels have never been as important as they are now.”

    Full Content: South China Morning Post

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