Reactions to the European Commission’s decision on Google Shopping

CEPIC submitted a competition complaint at the European Commission in November 2013. In April 2016, a second competition complaint of Getty Images followed. Google is accused of leveraging its dominant position in general web search to favour its own service: Google Images.

CEPIC and members

CEPIC looks forward to the European Commission intensifying its investigations in other specialized search services such as the image sector. Many sectors are affected by Google’s abusive conduct, such as Travel and Maps.

The image sector should not be forgotten! The press release explains why.

CEPIC Press Release

BVPA member uses the opportunity to remind that the damaging features of Google Images introduced in 2013, have now reached Germany and “something must change“!

BVPA Announcement

FairSearch

Fairsearch brings together the main complainants in the Google Shopping case. Specifically, Fondem, the original complainant in 2010, who bought the first anti-trust claim against Google is one of them. FairSearch focuses are non-discriminatory Search and Androïd.

CEPIC joined FairSearch in 2016.

Thomas Vinje, Legal Counsel of Fairsearch issued the following statement on behalf of the association on 27 June 2017

Commission condemns Google for search manipulation practices violating EU competition law

ICOMP

ICOMP’s membership as diverse as rights management, sports, travel, search, mapping and ecommerce. CEPIC has been a member of ICOMP since 2009.

 EC’s decision and fine in the Google case

Open Internet Project (OIP)

The OIP was created in 2014. OIP’s main objective is to achieve neutrality on the Internet. ICOMP joined forces with the OIP in March 2017.

 The OIP welcomes the decision taken by the European Commission against Google

L’OIP se félicite de la décision rendue par la Commission européenne à l’encontre de Google

As a lawyer following the cases (German press publishers, CEPIC, OIP) Dr. Thomas Höppner is positive:

€2.4 billion for Google Shopping? Of course! EU decision will boost competition and encourage investment in innovation.

Consumer organisation BEUC

  Google record fine paves way for better search results for consumers

Press Publishers

European press publishers applaud European Commission landmark decision in competition case against Google

The other side of the story

The other side of the story: consumers expect “fast and easy connections” says Google and the EC has failed to recognise this.

The European Commission decision on online shopping: the other side of the story

The Computer & Communication Association (aka Google’s lobbyist) sees for its part a “chilling effect on innovation”.

 EC Issues Record Fine In Google Shopping Case; CCIA Concerned About Chilling Effect On Innovation

… or considers Google the victim rather than the abuser:

 

 The Google Shopping Decision: When the Only Way to Be Law-Compliant is to Discriminate Against Yourself

United States of America

In its defense, Google has argued that the complaints submitted at the EC were motivated by an anti-US sentiment.

  • Getty Images joined six other major US corporations, including Yelp and Oracle, to express support for the action of the EC from a US point of view:
    HERE
  • Listen to this interview on of Luther Lower, vice president of
    HERE
  • ConsumerWatchDog urged the US authorities to act against Google anti-competitive practices
    HERE
  • White House refused to comment

MEDIA

The announcement of the sanctions against Google had the effect of a bomb. The present document includes only a part of the media coverage (Source is FairSearch)

Media Coverage

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