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The EU Competition Investigation of Internet Search. Why Google’s Market Tested Proposals for Re-Labelling and Opt-Out Solutions Do Not Suffice

By  |  May 6, 2015

Posted by Social Science Research Network

The EU Competition Investigation of Internet Search. Why Google’s Market Tested Proposals for Re-Labelling and Opt-Out Solutions Do Not Suffice Thomas Hoppner (Olswang) & Lucy J Davies (Olswang)

Abstract: Since November 2010 the European Commission has been investigating whether Google’s business practices comply with European competition law. The Commission has identified four conducts that may violate Article 102 TFEU. To bring the investigation to an end, Google has offered several commitments in April 2013 to meet the identified concerns. Based on a formal Market Test, the Commission will have to decide whether the commitments suffice to settle the case or whether other measures are required (I.). This article provides an overview of the Commission’s preliminary findings (II.), explains the remedies currently proposed by Google (III.) and assesses the impact of those remedies (IV.), before drawing a conclusion as to the effectiveness of such proposals (V.).