Joaquin Almunia said that Google's concessions are not enough to make a difference in online competition. July 17, 2013 5:29 AM PDT Despite its best efforts to put a three-year antitrust investigation behind it, Google isn't quite out of the woods just yet. The European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia held a press conference on Wednesday on the EU's antitrust investigation into Google. Almunia said that the proposals brought before his office by the search company "are not enough to overcome our concerns." He said Google must do more to put the antitrust case to rest. Reuters was first to report on Almunia's comments. Google has been in the EU's crosshairs over the last three years over what Almunia has called "abuses of dominance." Google, which owns over 80 percent of the European search market, is accused of promoting its own services to the detriment of competitors. Related stories GlassUp takes on Google Glass and Google legal Google Maps 2.0 for iOS launches with support for iPads Redesigned Google Maps interface now available to all Groom with a view? Larry Page wears Google Glass at wedding Google joins tech ranks pushing for streaming TV deals Earlier this year, Almunia's office received concessions from Google that the company believed, would put an end to the antitrust proceedings. Among the concessions was Google's decision to mark its own products in search results and show at least three rival sites whenever one of its products was displayed. Google also promised to allow advertisers to easily switch from its platforms to those from competitors. Almunia didn't say in his press conference today what he's looking for from Google, but it's clear that the search giant needs to offer something else. Almunia's comments come after he solicited opinions on Google's offer to the company's competitors. Many of them believed that it wasn't offering enough and that its concessions would in no way change the competitive landscape online. CNET has contacted Google for comment on Almunia's comments. We will update this story when we have more information.
Joaquin Almunia said that Google's concessions are not enough to make a difference in online competition.
Despite its best efforts to put a three-year antitrust investigation behind it, Google isn't quite out of the woods just yet.
The European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia held a press conference on Wednesday on the EU's antitrust investigation into Google. Almunia said that the proposals brought before his office by the search company "are not enough to overcome our concerns." He said Google must do more to put the antitrust case to rest.
Reuters was first to report on Almunia's comments.
Google has been in the EU's crosshairs over the last three years over what Almunia has called "abuses of dominance." Google, which owns over 80 percent of the European search market, is accused of promoting its own services to the detriment of competitors.
Related stories
- GlassUp takes on Google Glass and Google legal
- Google Maps 2.0 for iOS launches with support for iPads
- Redesigned Google Maps interface now available to all
- Groom with a view? Larry Page wears Google Glass at wedding
- Google joins tech ranks pushing for streaming TV deals
Earlier this year, Almunia's office received concessions from Google that the company believed, would put an end to the antitrust proceedings. Among the concessions was Google's decision to mark its own products in search results and show at least three rival sites whenever one of its products was displayed. Google also promised to allow advertisers to easily switch from its platforms to those from competitors.
Almunia didn't say in his press conference today what he's looking for from Google, but it's clear that the search giant needs to offer something else. Almunia's comments come after he solicited opinions on Google's offer to the company's competitors. Many of them believed that it wasn't offering enough and that its concessions would in no way change the competitive landscape online.
CNET has contacted Google for comment on Almunia's comments. We will update this story when we have more information.
