The European Union on Monday offered Google the chance to settle a long-standing antitrust investigation, urging the US internet giant to modify its business practices to address competitors' complaints.
EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Google should
correct its behaviour as regards to: prioritizing its own links in
search results; copying content from rivals; accompanying ads to
search results; and prioritising its own online ads business AdWords.
"I have just sent a letter to the president of Google, Eric
Schmidt, setting out these four points," Almunia told reporters.
Google should reply "in a matter of weeks" with proposals to
address the commission's concerns, Almunia said. Negotiations could
then start on a final "remedies package" that could allow the company
to escape EU antitrust fines.
"I hope that Google seizes this opportunity to swiftly resolve our
concerns, for the benefit of competition and innovation in the
sector," the commissioner said.
The EU executive started its probe into Google in November 2010.
"We've only just started to look through the commission's
arguments. We disagree with the conclusions but we're happy to
discuss any concerns they might have," said Al Verney, a Google
spokesman in Brussels.
"Competition on the web has increased dramatically in the last two
years since the commission started looking at this and the
competitive pressures Google faces are tremendous. Innovation online
has never been greater," he added.
Regardless of whether a deal is struck, the company will remain
under EU scrutiny on other competition issues, Almunia specified.
"We continue the investigations on other issues," the commissioner
said, referring to complaints by rivals about being shut off from
Google's mobile phone operating system Android and the way the
company treats travel agencies on its search engine.
