Google moves to end EU antitrust probe without fine

Google formally submitted a package of concessions to European Union competition regulators in April 2013 in a strong signal that the world's No. 1 search engine may be able to settle a two-year antitrust investigation without a fine.

Google first offered proposals at the end of January 2013 following a spate of complaints from rivals such as Microsoft that triggered the European Commission's investigation in November 2010.

But the company, which has a market share of over 80% in Europe's Internet search market according to research firm comScore, has now made a formal offer after fine-tuning its proposals following discussions with the DG Competition of the European Commission.

On the 25 April 2013 the European Commission issued a consultation of the concessions proposed by Google.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: European data watchdogs target Google over privacy http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-data-watchdogs-target-google-over-privacy/

ESO: Background Information: Speech: Statement by Vice President Almunia on the Google investigation http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-statement-by-vice-president-almunia-on-the-google-investigation/

ESO: Background information: Google resolute in face of EU ultimatum / Google revises concessions to EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/google-resolute-in-face-of-eu-ultimatum-google-revises-concessions-to-eu/

Website: ICOMP http://www.i-comp.org/

ICOMP: Statement, 11.04.13: Google’s Offer Requires Robust Market Test http://www.i-comp.org/blog/2013/google%e2%80%99s-offer-requires-robust-market-test/

BBC News, 12.04.13: Google offers deal to end Brussels anti-trust probe http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22123921

Website: Fair Search http://www.fairsearch.org/

European Commission: DG Competition: Cases: 39740 / 39768 / 39775 http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/index.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_result&nace_code=99950

Blog: The Economist: Schumpeter, 13.04.13: Google and the European Commission. A flavour of utility http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2013/04/google-and-european-commission

Deutsche Welle, 09.04.13: Google’s Android at the center of antitrust complaint http://www.dw.de/googles-android-at-the-center-of-antitrust-complaint/a-16731995

European Commission: RAPID: Press Release, IP/13/371: Antitrust: Commission seeks feedback on commitments offered by Google to address competition concerns http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-371_en.pdf

BBC News, 25.04.13: Google offers clearer search labels after EU probe http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22293238

---