The big European Google antitrust probe continues, but may be getting closer to a resolution. Either that or we may be getting closer to formal charges being brought against the Internet giant. Either way, it appears the EU is losing its patience.
Last month, Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said that Google’s most recent proposals were not acceptable (despite calling them improvements in the past). They didn’t satisfy Google’s competitors (what will?), and Almunia called on Google to go further. The ball is apparently in Google’s court.
But Google better make some kind of move soon if it hopes to avoid charges, as Reuters is reporting on the latest comments from Almunia: “We need more and we need more not during the next year, we need more during the next weeks.”
Google had already proposed to give links to rival sites “much more real estate and visibility,” including logos with more prominent links and dynamic text providing more info about their sites.
FairSearch, a coalition made up of Google competitors, called the proposal ineffective and confusing to consumers.
The main concern from the EU and Google’s competition remains the search engine’s treatment of vertical searches – especially in the shopping vertical.
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