Get your antitrust on

30 November 2010 By Robert Cyran Follow @rob_cyran

The European Commission is examining whether Google is using its dominance in search to unfairly extend its reach into related areas the way Microsoft once did. The probe is auspiciously timed: Google is contemplating a near$6 bln bid to enter the ecoupon business.

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The European Commission has opened an investigation into whether Google has violated competition rules by lowering the ranking of competing services in areas such as price comparison. The Commission will also examine whether Google charges firms offering rival services higher advertising rates.

Other areas of investigation are whether Google imposes exclusivity obligations on advertising partners, which prevent the placement of ads for rival search sites on partners' websites. Finally, the Commission is examining suspected restrictions on the portability of online adverting campaign data to competing advertising platforms.

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