Google Files Concessions To End Antitrust Probe

Google has reportedly submitted a package of concessions to the European Commission as it seeks to end a lengthy antitrust investigation by competition regulators.

The EC’s investigation opened back in November 2010, and focused on whether Google unfairly uses its search engine dominance to promote other Google services, such as Google Maps, by giving them prominent placement in search results.

Settlement Efforts

Google actually provided a settlement offer in late January and since then the EC has been negotiating with Google on possible changes to its search engine.

Now Google has reportedly fine-tuned and submitted its revised proposals following discussions with the EU antitrust authority.

“In the last few weeks, the Commission completed its preliminary assessment formally setting out its concerns. On this basis, Google then made a formal submission of commitments to the Commission,” Antoine Colombani, the Commission’s spokesman on competition policy, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

“We are now preparing the launch of a market test to seek feedback from market players, including complainants, on these commitment proposals.”

And it seems both sides are keen to end the investigation, with the EU competition commissioner saying the agreement would be legally binding.

“I am trying to reach a decision … that will include legally binding commitments based on the Google proposal,” Joaquin Almunia was reported as saying.

American Agreement

The feeling that the European probe is in its final stages has been strengthened after a similar antitrust probe in the United States was resolved in Google’s favour in January.

Instead of an antitrust prosecution in its home country, Google entered into a voluntary agreement with the Federal Trade Commission to change some of its business practices to resolve complaints of competitors. This was after the FTC concluded Google had not manipulated search results.

However, the news that Google could be close to reaching an agreement with European authorities may not sit well with its rivals.

Last month, a joint letter from 11 web-based companies including Foundem, Streetmap and TripAdvisor was sent to the European Commission, demanding real progress in the investigation. They urged the European authorities to file formal antitrust charges against Google, arguing the only way to get Google to change its alleged practices, is for the EU to file charges and let the matter be given a full review.

Possible Concessions

Against this backdrop of hostility, Google submitted its own proposals, although it’s unclear what they actually are.

In the FTC probe, Google pledged to end the practice of “scraping” content from other websites for its products. It also said it would allow advertisers to export analytical data.

And Reuters, quoting people familiar with the matter, stated that Google has offered to label its own services in search results to differentiate them from rival services. It has also pledged to impose fewer restrictions on advertisers.

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