Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Blogs Google Watch
    • Blogs
    • Google Watch
    • Search Engines

    Google Must Tread Lightly After Microsoft Court Decision

    By
    Clint Boulton
    -
    September 17, 2007
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      By denying Microsoft’s antitrust appeal and upholding the European Union’s $613 million fine against the software company, Europe’s Court of First Instance is sending a resounding message to companies it thinks are getting too big for their britches and don’t have the consumers’ best interests at heart.

      The decision provides all the more reason for Google to be extremely careful going forward. As the overwhelming leader in the top-line search market, Google is already on many regulators’ watch lists as a potential monopolist.

      Google’s $3.1 billion bid to buy DoubleClick, which would give them an even more imposing share of the search sector, doesn’t help this position.

      But size and the will to own as much of the search land grab as possible aren’t the only things that put Google on the radars of the EU and other regulatory bodies.

      In addition to fending off copyright infringement suits for publishing news organizations’ content, the company is under tremendous pressure for the amount of personally identifiable information (PII) it culls in the search log data it stores for targeted advertising opportunities. Several privacy groups are unsettled by the notion that the search vendor is peeping on consumers’ searches.

      This is a big reason why Google’s appearance Friday at an UNESCO meeting in France to support the APEC privacy framework was a smart foot forward.

      Rest assured, the EU is aware of Google’s growing power, as are the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Congress. While the U.S. has historically been loathe to shoot down deals due to privacy concerns, Europe’s major consumer group BEUC said it feared Google’s takeover of DoubleClick would damage European Union privacy rights.

      What this means is that between the United States and the EU, there is a healthy opposition to Google adding DoubleClick to its arsenal. I don’t expect Google to have as much a problem in the United States. Moreover, traditionally, when the United States blesses a merger the EU follows suit.

      But even if the U.S. Congress and FTC allow Google to pass go and collect DoubleClick, the EU, emboldened by its thwarting of Microsoft, may not cave so easily. The EU may smell the blood of a suspected monopolist and go in for the kill.

      Because of the court’s final position on the Microsoft antitrust case, Google needs to be ready to defend its deal for DoubleClick.

      At any rate, keep a close eye on the EU’s position regarding the DoubleClick deal: the EU’s blessing or opposition to the buy will tell us much about whether or not it suspects Google of being a monopolist and could greatly affect Google’s moves going forward.

      Clint Boulton

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×