- Nov 5, 2011
- 5,855
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Google Tying Google Plus and many more: Specific practices; Google services benefiting from tying; how Google penalizes those who reject Google's demands - topic just for you ..
Google Tying Google Plus and many more: by Ben Edelman, on benedelman.org: http://www.benedelman.org/news/011212-1.html
QUOTE:
'This week Google announced Google Search Plus Your World ("Google Search Plus" for short).Reaction has been critical. Danny Sullivan says Google Search Plus "pushes Google+ over relevancy," and he offers compelling examples demonstrating this favored treatment. Meanwhile, EPIC executive director Marc Rotenberg argues that Google is "using its market dominance in a separate sector [search] ... to fight off its challenger Facebook" -- essentially, alleging that Google is tying Google+ to Google Search, forcing users to accept the former if they want the latter.
As Danny and Marc point out, Google is favoring its own ancillary services even when other destinations are objectively superior, and Google is using its dominance in search to compel users to accept Google's other offerings. But this problem is much bigger than Google Search Plus: Google has used similar tying tactics to push dozens of its products for years. I'm working on a detailed article with numerous examples plus relevant antitrust analysis. But with Google Search Plus prompting so much interest, I wanted to flag other areas where Google has invoked these tactics.'
'My takeaway: Google's tying tactics should not be permitted. Google's dominant position in search requires that the company hold itself to a higher level of conduct, including avoiding tying its other products to its dominant search service. Google has repeatedly crossed the line, and antitrust enforcement action is required to put a stop to these practices.'
'I've found more than a dozen Google services receiving favored placement in Google search results. Consider Google Blog Search, Google Book Search, Google Checkout, Google Health, Google Images, Google Maps, Google News, Google Realtime, Google Shopping, and Google Video. Some have developed into solid products with loyal users. Others are far weaker. But each enjoys a level of favored placement in Google search results that other services can only dream of.'
'The Special Benefits Google Reserves for Its Own Services .. it gives its services distinctive layout and format benefits unavailable to other sites. .. By all indications, Google staff manually override algorithmic results, manually specifying that specific Google services are to appear in specific positions for specific keywords. Of course no other site enjoys such overrides.'
'Google Effectively Penalizes Those who Decline to Participate In Its Tied Offerings. .. Google puts [Google] services above, favoring advertising revenue over user convenience.'
'Over and over, Google has tied its services in various combinations to compel (or attempt to compel) others to bend to its will.'
'On one level, these are standard "all-or-nothing" tactics: Google has something others want, and Google only provides the desired service if it gets it way. But the impact is clear: Google's multiple mutually-reinforcing tying arrangements extend Google's position of dominance, forcing prospective business partners to bend to Google's will, and enlarging Google's control over ever more sectors.'
'Yet Google offers its search results only with its own ancillary services. In particular, Google gives no mechanism for users to obtain Google Search with others' ancillary services or with no ancillary services at all. This tactic has already led Google to dominance in blog search, book search, image search, maps, news, and product search, and it is amply clear how this tactic could soon lead Google to dominance in reviews, local search, and travel search ..'
'Most relevant: Google should let users swap its own services for competitors' offerings. Consider users' ability to choose their preferred web browser, media player, email program, and myriad other applications -- choices that facilitates continued competition and innovation in all these areas. Yet a user at Google.com has zero ability to eschew Google Maps for Mapquest, or to replace Google Places reviews with Yelp.'
'When Google presents its ancillary services in its search results, it engages in classic "tying" behavior, raising concern under US and European antitrust law.'
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PS. Look also on 'Why Google is ditching search' topic here: http://malwaretips.com/Thread-Why-Google-is-ditching-search
.
Google Tying Google Plus and many more: Specific practices; Google services benefiting from tying; how Google penalizes those who reject Google's demands - topic just for you ..
Google Tying Google Plus and many more: by Ben Edelman, on benedelman.org: http://www.benedelman.org/news/011212-1.html
QUOTE:
'This week Google announced Google Search Plus Your World ("Google Search Plus" for short).Reaction has been critical. Danny Sullivan says Google Search Plus "pushes Google+ over relevancy," and he offers compelling examples demonstrating this favored treatment. Meanwhile, EPIC executive director Marc Rotenberg argues that Google is "using its market dominance in a separate sector [search] ... to fight off its challenger Facebook" -- essentially, alleging that Google is tying Google+ to Google Search, forcing users to accept the former if they want the latter.
As Danny and Marc point out, Google is favoring its own ancillary services even when other destinations are objectively superior, and Google is using its dominance in search to compel users to accept Google's other offerings. But this problem is much bigger than Google Search Plus: Google has used similar tying tactics to push dozens of its products for years. I'm working on a detailed article with numerous examples plus relevant antitrust analysis. But with Google Search Plus prompting so much interest, I wanted to flag other areas where Google has invoked these tactics.'
'My takeaway: Google's tying tactics should not be permitted. Google's dominant position in search requires that the company hold itself to a higher level of conduct, including avoiding tying its other products to its dominant search service. Google has repeatedly crossed the line, and antitrust enforcement action is required to put a stop to these practices.'
'I've found more than a dozen Google services receiving favored placement in Google search results. Consider Google Blog Search, Google Book Search, Google Checkout, Google Health, Google Images, Google Maps, Google News, Google Realtime, Google Shopping, and Google Video. Some have developed into solid products with loyal users. Others are far weaker. But each enjoys a level of favored placement in Google search results that other services can only dream of.'
'The Special Benefits Google Reserves for Its Own Services .. it gives its services distinctive layout and format benefits unavailable to other sites. .. By all indications, Google staff manually override algorithmic results, manually specifying that specific Google services are to appear in specific positions for specific keywords. Of course no other site enjoys such overrides.'
'Google Effectively Penalizes Those who Decline to Participate In Its Tied Offerings. .. Google puts [Google] services above, favoring advertising revenue over user convenience.'
'Over and over, Google has tied its services in various combinations to compel (or attempt to compel) others to bend to its will.'
'On one level, these are standard "all-or-nothing" tactics: Google has something others want, and Google only provides the desired service if it gets it way. But the impact is clear: Google's multiple mutually-reinforcing tying arrangements extend Google's position of dominance, forcing prospective business partners to bend to Google's will, and enlarging Google's control over ever more sectors.'
'Yet Google offers its search results only with its own ancillary services. In particular, Google gives no mechanism for users to obtain Google Search with others' ancillary services or with no ancillary services at all. This tactic has already led Google to dominance in blog search, book search, image search, maps, news, and product search, and it is amply clear how this tactic could soon lead Google to dominance in reviews, local search, and travel search ..'
'Most relevant: Google should let users swap its own services for competitors' offerings. Consider users' ability to choose their preferred web browser, media player, email program, and myriad other applications -- choices that facilitates continued competition and innovation in all these areas. Yet a user at Google.com has zero ability to eschew Google Maps for Mapquest, or to replace Google Places reviews with Yelp.'
'When Google presents its ancillary services in its search results, it engages in classic "tying" behavior, raising concern under US and European antitrust law.'
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PS. Look also on 'Why Google is ditching search' topic here: http://malwaretips.com/Thread-Why-Google-is-ditching-search
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