News Corp criticizes Google's market power

In a letter to EU Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia published in New York on Wednesday (local time), News Corp boss Robert Thomson accused the internet company of exploiting its market "to stifle competition". The solutions proposed so far by Almunia in the dispute with Google were not sufficient, especially as Google's power was growing every day. Google has been "extraordinarily successful in making money from its users", but has not shown the will to respect fundamental property rights, although it is clearly in a position to do so, criticized the head of the media group, which includes renowned newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal and the British Times. In addition, Google profits extensively from the efforts and investments of others. The group must therefore do more to ensure that rights are accepted and that its major search engine does not abuse its power to wipe out the competition, according to the report, which was published on 8 September.
September dated letter.

Almunia has had several practices of the market leader investigated since November 2010. The focus is on the accusation that Google manipulates search results. Results from specialized search services operated by Google itself are displayed higher and more prominently than results from competitors.

The US company is threatened with a ban on its practices and a heavy fine. However, Google has repeatedly offered concessions to avert this. For a while, it looked as if the Commission would be satisfied with this and close the case. In the spring of this year, however, Almunia asked the plaintiffs for new arguments against Google. These were received in the summer and have now prompted the EU Commission to reconsider and review the case, explained Almunia in an interview at the beginning of September. (SDA)