Posted on 07/19/2018 8:09:18 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Europe is very good at regulating. Less so at creating. That's why Europe has fined Google five billion dollars for allegedly monopolistic behavior related to Google's Android operating system on phones and tablet devices while failing to produce continental alternatives of its own.
European authorities fined Google a record $5.1 billion on Wednesday for abusing its power in the mobile phone market and ordered the company to alter its practices, in one of the most aggressive regulatory actions against American technology giants and one that may force lasting changes to smartphones.
The European Union's antitrust fine of 4.34 billion euros was almost double the bloc's fine against Google last year over the company's unfair favoring of its own services in internet search results.
Google was fined for favoring its own services in search results? What order would the E.U. have search results come in? The determination of search results is an entirely arbitrary decision. There is no right or wrong way to do it. How can Google be fined for returning search results for which there are no objective standards?
"Google has used Android as a vehicle to cement the dominance of its search engine," said Margrethe Vestager, Europe's antitrust chief. "These practices have denied rivals the chance to innovate and compete on the merits. They have denied European consumers the benefits of effective competition in the important mobile sphere."
That's not true. Just because Google's search engine and Google's browser, Chrome, are set as the default devices on Android phones, that does not mean that users cannot download alternatives. Within five minutes of activating a Google phone, a user is free, without charge, to download any browser of his choice. Furthermore, a user can use any search engine he likes.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
The EU has a Budget Shortfall again so they just Fine a company ,LOL
Our wonderful allies.
Left wing suing left wing, works for me.
Why is the amount so low? After all, G can afford it.
So, they don’t have iPhones in Europe?
Google need to tell them to stuff it.
Block Google...and Android.. from Europe. Next day...fine rescinded.
Gee, this is like seeing your enemy drive off the cliff in your new car. The stinky Euros verses the leftest Google crowd. Don’t know which I want to see lose, so a tie would be fine I guess.
I am not knowledgeable in the world of programming or software but seems to me without a common software language, what would be the effect on the various hand held mobile devices, the equal of the tower of Babel? Just wondering, do the Euros make automobiles with interchangeable engines from other auto makers??
RE: Block Google...and Android.. from Europe. Next day...fine rescinded.
Wouldn’t that help Apple’s iPhone?
RE: So, they don’t have iPhones in Europe?
What about Nokia? Remember them?
Google getting bit by the socialism it supports.
“Wouldn’t that help Apple’s iPhone?”
Then the Brussel’s criminals would figure out a way to fine Apple.
The EU overreached here. But Google is evil. Who do I favor, a big government fascist ruling that says “you can own your company but we will run it” or the evil corporate empire that’s working hard to censor people?
I’m sure the EU will soon be fining Apple for it’s monopolistic actions on the iPhone platform. Any. Day. Now.
Psst, EU, umm, Google’s kinda dropping that whole ‘don’t be evil’ thing. Might, you know, not want to poke the bear too much.
This was just governmental theft, pure and simple.
RE: The EU has a Budget Shortfall again so they just Fine a company ,LOL
Sort of like my county. They have a budget shortfall so they start installing red light cameras and speed traps everywhere.
American Thinker, showing no understanding of anti-trust, writes an article.
Google is indeed an illegal monopoly. And now they are diving into politics. Many of their behaviors trip the legal definition of a monopoly.
I hold zero loyalty to that company that works as hard as it can to hurt conservatives.
“A monopoly is when a company has exclusive control over a good or service in a particular market. Not all monopolies are illegal; for example, businesses that produce a superior product or are well managed may disadvantage their competitors while not violating antitrust law.
Monopolies are illegal if they are established or maintained through improper conduct, such as exclusionary or predatory acts. This is known as anticompetitive monopolization.
How Illegal Monopolies Are Formed
Here are some examples of how illegal monopolies are formed:
Price Fixing: competitors agree to buy or sell products or services at a fixed price or rate
Price Discrimination: selling similar goods to buyers at different prices
Exclusive Dealings: requiring a buyer or seller to do buy or sell all or most of a certain product from a single supplier
Group Boycotts: competitors agree to boycott a certain entity
Tying Contract: selling a product or service on the condition that the buyer agrees to also buy a different product or service”
And the biggest most brazen illegal monopoly is OPEC. They literally engage in price fixing among various producers, etc.
But we will never spank our camel jockey friends.
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