EU grills Google
Internet Marketing, Search Engines, E-commerce
14 November 2007
The European Union (EU) has begun its investigation of Google's DoubleClick bid after earlier probes revealed competition worries.
The probe was launched under EU merger regulations and the commission now has 90 days to decide whether the deal would, 'significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area'.
The EU will be trying to find if a deal would create anti-competitive restrictions for other companies and harm customers.
"The commission will, in particular, investigate whether without this transaction, DoubleClick would have grown into an effective competitor of Google in the market for online ad intermediation," it stated.
Both Microsoft and Yahoo! have made complaints about the deal, despite Microsoft's attempt last year to buy DoubleClick.
Yahoo!'s head of European public policy, Andrew Cecil, recently said: "The end result will be higher prices for internet publishers and advertisers and less choice for European consumers."
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently agreed not to intervene in Google’s proposed purchase of the ad company.
Yahoo! and Google are also competing for a share of mobile internet advertising and looking to establish themselves in Asia.
To make more money from your website
CALL US NOW ON 01483 740800.
