UK: Streetmap loses ‘anticompetitive’ case against Google

UK-based digital map provider Streetmap has lost its High Court action accusing Google of abusing its search dominance to promote Google Maps over rivals.

Streetmap, which launched in 1997 as one of the first online mapping services, had claimed Google was engaging in “anticompetitive conduct” contrary to provisions of the Competition Act 1998 and that its launch of Google Maps in 2007 lead to a “dramatic loss of traffic” to Steetmap’s website.

The complaint revolved around the use of the so-called “big map” or “Maps OneBox” at the top of Google’s search results, launched in 2007, which displayed mapping results from Google Maps, not rivals. Streetmap argued that showing maps in search results, along with the launch of Google Maps for Android in 2008, saw Google promoting its own maps more favourably.

Mr Justice Roth ruled Google’s introduction of the new-style Maps OneBox in 2007 was “not reasonably likely appreciably to affect competition in the market for online maps” and that Google’s conduct was “objectively justified”.

A Google spokesperson said: “The court made clear that we’re focused on improving the quality of our search results. This decision promotes innovation.”

Full content: Bloomberg

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