Google Faces Texas Antitrust Probe Over Search
Google has confirmed that the Texas Attorney General is conducting an antitrust investigation over its search engine
“My view is the arguments are generally absurd,” Sullivan wrote in his post. “None of these companies are large enough to pose any threat to Google, to the degree it would be compelled to take such stupid action. Moreover, if Google’s going to act to block a competitor, I’d expect it to pick bigger targets – say like Microsoft.”
Growing Pressure
Such sentiment makes a fine segue to the broader picture.
Google is facing a growing tide of hostility, some of it facilitated by Microsoft, whose search service Bing is struggling to gain traction versus the powerful incumbent.
Microsoft admitted telling the Department of Justice and EC that Google is stifling competition in search and online advertising. Microsoft has also directed other companies to antitrust regulators.
Foundem’s founders Adam Raff and Shivaun Raff earlier this year were said to have been introduced to Congressional staff members and antitrust enforcers at the DOJ and FTC by antitrust attorney Gary Reback. Reback is fighting Google’s Book Search bid to organise the world’s orphaned books and sell them online.
Chalk much of the antitrust rhetoric up to Google’s growth in the last 11 years. The company’s hunger hasn’t dimmed, making it susceptible to additional scrutiny by companies, competitors and regulators concerned about corporate greed.
Google’s $750 million (£485 million) bid to buy mobile ad provider AdMob didn’t close until May because the Federal Trade Commission scrutinised it intensely. Google is facing a similar probe for its $700 million (£453 million) play for flight information software maker ITA.
