Issue no. 413 - 20 February 2011

• EU - Commission probes allegations of antitrust violations by Google (RAPID)
  The European Commission has decided to open an antitrust investigation into allegations that Google has abused a dominant position in online search. The opening of formal proceedings follows complaints by search service providers about unfavourable treatment of their services in Google's unpaid and sponsored search results coupled with an alleged preferential placement of Google's own services. The Commission will investigate whether Google has abused a dominant market position in online search by allegedly lowering the ranking of unpaid search results of competing services. The Commission's probe will additionally focus on allegations that Google imposes exclusivity obligations on advertising partners, preventing them from placing certain types of competing ads on their web sites, as well as on computer and software vendors, with the aim of shutting out competing search tools. Finally, it will investigate suspected restrictions on the portability of online advertising campaign data to competing online advertising platforms.

• EU - Europe Inquiry Focuses on Google Business Practice (New York Times)
  European antitrust investigators are asking advertisers whether Google suggested they increase spending with the company in return for improved visibility in its Web search results. The investigators are also examining whether Google stymied companies who had tried to move their business elsewhere. The queries are among about 120 questions sent as part of the European Union’s inquiry, opened late last year, into possible antitrust abuses by Google. A copy of the confidential questionnaire, seen by The International Herald Tribune, seeks to ascertain whether Google manipulated search results and used its popular platform to keep business and disadvantage rivals in online advertising and Internet search.

Issue no. 410 - 6 August 2010

• EU - Competition in Digital Media and the Internet (RAPID)
  Joaquín Almunia Vice President of the European Commission responsible for competition policy, UCL Jevons Lecture London, 7 July 2010.

• UK - Virgin Media complains to Ofcom about Project Canvas (BBC)
  Virgin Media has lodged a complaint with Ofcom, aimed at halting the BBC-backed video-on-demand service Project Canvas. The cable giant says the project, which is developing common standards for net TV in the UK, is anti-competitive. BT, Channel 4 and ITV are also partners. It was given the green light in May, when the Office of Fair Trading ruled it was not a merger. But Virgin Media said it could destroy the online TV market. It said the collaboration between the three most prominent public service broadcasters would "significantly and irreparably harm" the TV sector.

Issue no. 407 - 28 March 2010

• EU - Commission approves proposed merger between UK subsidiaries of France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom (RAPID)
  The European Commission has cleared the proposed merger of Orange UK and T-Mobile UK, respectively France Télécom's (FT) and Deutsche Telekom's (DT) UK subsidiaries. The decision is conditional upon the amendment of an existing network sharing agreement with Hutchison 3G UK (3UK), to ensure that there remain sufficient competitors in the market, and the divestiture of a quarter of the combined spectrum of the merging parties in the 1800 MHz band, which is one of three frequency bands currently used for mobile communications in the UK. In light of these commitments, the UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) withdrew its request to refer the case for review by the UK Competition Authorities.

• EU - Google faces anti-monopoly probe by European Commission (Guardian)
  Google is facing a preliminary anti-monopoly probe by the European Commission into its dominant position in online browsing and digital advertising following allegations that it demotes competing websites to the lower echelons of customers' search results. The Silicon Valley internet company revealed that the commission has sent out formal questionnaires seeking information about complaints from three firms – the British price comparison site Foundem, a French legal search engine called eJustice and a shopping site, Ciao, which is owned by Microsoft. The complaints centre on the way in which Google's search results are compiled and on the terms and conditions the company attaches to deals with advertisers. Although the commission's investigation is only at a tentative stage, the fact that Brussels is taking the issue seriously is likely to set off alarm bells at Google. See also Exclusive: How Google's Algorithm Rules the Web (Wired) and blog post by Amit Singhal, a Google Fellow responsible for ranking, explains the principles behind its algorithm.

Issue no. 406 - 21 February 2010

• EU - Commission clears Microsoft's proposed acquisition of the Yahoo search business (RAPID)
  The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the internet search and search advertising businesses of Yahoo! Inc. by Microsoft. The Commission concluded that the concentration would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.

• EU - Microsoft offers web browser choice to IE users (BBC)
  Millions of European Internet Explorer (IE) users will have the option to choose an alternative browser from 1 March, Microsoft has announced. It follows a legal agreement between Microsoft and Europe's Competition Commission in December 2009. Microsoft committed to letting Windows PC users across Europe install the web browser of their choice, rather than having Microsoft IE as a default. See The Browser Choice Screen for Europe: What to Expect, When to Expect It by Dave Heiner, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel.

• UK - Newspaper group call to block BBC iPhone apps (BBC)
  The BBC Trust has been urged to block the corporation's plans to launch phone apps for its news and sport content. The Newspaper Publishers Association (NPA) said that the corporation would "damage the nascent market" for apps. The group said that it would also raise the issues with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and MPs on the Media Select Committee. The BBC has said it plans to launch its first news app on the iPhone in April, followed by one for its sport content.

Issue no. 404 - 21 December 2009

• EU - Commission accepts Microsoft commitments to give users browser choice (RAPID)
  The European Commission has adopted a decision that renders legally binding commitments offered by Microsoft to boost competition on the web browser market. The commitments address Commission concerns that Microsoft may have tied its web browser Internet Explorer to the Windows PC operating system in breach of EU rules on abuse of a dominant market position. Microsoft commits to offer European users of Windows choice among different web browsers and to allow computer manufacturers and users the possibility to turn Internet Explorer off. Microsoft is also publishing an undertaking whereby it commits to make far-reaching interoperability disclosures. See Your Internet, Your Choice: Microsoft web browsers decision (RAPID) Opening remarks by Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Competition Policy at press conference Brussels, 16th December 2009.

• The War For the Web (Tim O'Reilly)
  I've outlined a few of the ways that big players like Facebook, Apple, and News Corp are potentially breaking the "small pieces loosely joined" model of the Internet. But perhaps most threatening of all are the natural monopolies created by Web 2.0 network effects. One of the points I've made repeatedly about Web 2.0 is that it is the design of systems that get better the more people use them, and that over time, such systems have a natural tendency towards monopoly. And so we've grown used to a world with one dominant search engine, one dominant online encyclopedia, one dominant online retailer, one dominant auction site, one dominant online classified site, and we've been readying ourselves for one dominant social network. But what happens when a company with one of these natural monopolies uses it to gain dominance in other, adjacent areas?

Issue no. 402 - 18 October 2009

• EU approves new Microsoft pledges (BBC)
  The European Union has voiced its approval for Microsoft's latest pledges to curb its anti-competitive practices. The technology giant has agreed to give customers a wider choice of web browser through its Windows operating system and to share information with rivals. The EU will now consult PC makers, software firms and consumers on Microsoft's offer.

• EU - State aid: Commission adopts Guidelines for broadband networks (RAPID)
  The European Commission has adopted Guidelines on the application of EC Treaty state aid rules to the public funding of broadband networks. The Guidelines provide a clear and predictable framework for stakeholders and will help Member States to accelerate and extend broadband deployment. The Guidelines also contain specific provisions concerning the deployment of Next Generation Access networks, allowing public support to foster investment in this strategic sector without creating undue distortions of competition. The Guidelines take account of comments received during a public consultation.

• US objects to Google book deal (BBC)
  The US Justice Department has urged a New York court to reject a deal that would allow internet company Google to publish millions of books online. The deal raised copyright and anti-trust issues, the department said, and should be rejected in its current form. See Press release. In its filing, the Department proposed that the parties consider a number of changes to the agreement that may help address the United States' concerns, including imposing limitations on the most open-ended provisions for future licensing, eliminating potential conflicts among class members, providing additional protections for unknown rights holders, addressing the concerns of foreign authors and publishers, eliminating the joint-pricing mechanisms among publishers and authors, and, whatever the settlement's ultimate scope, providing some mechanism by which Google's competitors can gain comparable access.

Issue no. 400 - 5 July 2009

• US - DOJ officially opens investigation into Google Book Search (IDG News Service)
  The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating a settlement involving Google Book Search for possible antitrust violations, following months of speculation that the agency had its eye on the service. In a filing to the judge overseeing the settlement of a lawsuit filed by The Authors Guild against Google, the DOJ informed the court that it has opened an investigation into the proposed settlement after reviewing public comments of concern. Those comments suggest that the agreement might violate the Sherman Act, a U.S. antitrust law, the DOJ said.

Issue no. 398 - 13 April 2009

• eu - Antitrust: Commission welcomes judgment of the Court of Justice in French broadband case (RAPID)
  The European Commission welcomes the judgment by the European Court of Justice (Case C-202/07) dismissing in its entirety France Télécom's appeal of a 2007 judgment of the Court of First Instance (Case T-340/03). The 2007 judgment had confirmed the Commission decision of 2003 sanctioning Wanadoo Interactive S.A., at the time a subsidiary of France Télécom, for an abuse of a dominant position in the form of predatory pricing. The judgment confirms the Commission finding that the abusive practices of Wanadoo restricted market entry by competing internet providers, and thus harmed consumers.

• EU: Commission launches new consultation on state funding of public service broadcasting (RAPID)
  The European Commission has launched a public consultation on a revised draft for a new Communication laying down the rules that it intends to apply to state funding of public service broadcasting. Member States and stakeholders have the opportunity to submit their views on the proposed text by 8 May 2009 at the latest. On the basis of the comments received, the Commission intends to adopt a modernised Broadcasting Communication later this year. Main changes compared to the previous draft concern clarifications on the principles of technology neutrality and editorial independence, an increased focus on the key principles with enhanced flexibility for implementation at Member State level and more clarity on holding public service reserves.

• FR -Vivendi poursuit France Télécom au niveau européen (Silicon.fr)
  Nouveaux ennuis en perspective pour France Télécom. Après avoir été condamné coup sur coup par le Conseil de la concurrence et le tribunal de Commerce pour l'exclusivité de l'iPhone et sa stratégie de contenus exclusifs autour du sport, l'opérateur historique subit un nouvel assaut de la part de Vivendi. La maison mère de SFR et de Canal+ va déposer une plainte auprès de la Commission européenne pour abus de position dominante. "Nous estimons qu'il y a une position dominante de France Télécom avec les prix pratiqués en matière d'abonnement et de tarifs d'accès à la boucle locale" (dégroupage), a expliqué Jean-Bernard Lévy, président du directoire de Vivendi.

Issue no. 397 - 8 March 2009

• EU - Battle of the browsers steps up a gear (FT)
  Google has sought a seat at the table in influencing the new restrictions that European regulators are set to impose on Microsoft's browser business, as it officially staked out a position against Microsoft in the software company's latest anti-trust battle with Brussels. The move comes after the European Commission filed a statement of objections against Microsoft, taking issue with its practice of "tying" its Internet Explorer browser with its dominant Windows PC operating system. In a blog posting, Sundar Pinchai, product manager for Google's Chrome browser, said that the internet company had applied to become a "third party" in the case.

• FR -Vivendi poursuit France Télécom au niveau européen (Silicon.fr)
  Nouveaux ennuis en perspective pour France Télécom. Après avoir été condamné coup sur coup par le Conseil de la concurrence et le tribunal de Commerce pour l'exclusivité de l'iPhone et sa stratégie de contenus exclusifs autour du sport, l'opérateur historique subit un nouvel assaut de la part de Vivendi. La maison mère de SFR et de Canal+ va déposer une plainte auprès de la Commission européenne pour abus de position dominante. "Nous estimons qu'il y a une position dominante de France Télécom avec les prix pratiqués en matière d'abonnement et de tarifs d'accès à la boucle locale" (dégroupage), a expliqué Jean-Bernard Lévy, président du directoire de Vivendi.

Issue no. 396 - 8 February 2009

• EU - Microsoft is accused again (BBC)
  The European Commission has accused Microsoft of harming competition by bundling its Explorer web browser with its Windows operating system. The commission said it had reached the preliminary view that the US software giant had undermined consumer choice and infringed EU rules. See Antitrust: Commission confirms sending a Statement of Objections to Microsoft on the tying of Internet Explorer to Windows (RAPID). The Commission believes that the tying of Internet Explorer with Windows, which makes Internet Explorer available on 90% of the world's PCs, distorts competition on the merits between competing web browsers insofar as it provides Internet Explorer with an artificial distribution advantage which other web browsers are unable to match. The Commission is concerned that through the tying, Microsoft shields Internet Explorer from head to head competition with other browsers which is detrimental to the pace of product innovation and to the quality of products which consumers ultimately obtain. In addition, the Commission is concerned that the ubiquity of Internet Explorer creates artificial incentives for content providers and software developers to design websites or software primarily for Internet Explorer which ultimately risks undermining competition and innovation in the provision of services to consumers.

• EU-Parlamentarier kritisieren Kommissionspläne zur Regulierung des öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunks (Heise)
  Auf der Plenarsitzung des Europäischen Parlaments in Straßburg übten die Abgeordneten erneut Kritik am aktuellen Entwurf (PDF-Datei) des Nachfolgedokuments der sogenannten "Rundfunkmitteilung" von 2001, in dem die EU-Kommission die Finanzierung des öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunks einheitlicher regeln will. Der Streit entzündet sich an der Frage, wie sehr die Kommission den Mitgliedsstaaten im sensiblen Feld der Finanzierung des öffentlichen Rundfunks "hineinregiere", wie viele Parlamentarier es nennen.

• FR - La distribution de contenus exclusifs par un FAI en question (01net)
  Le gpovernement a demandé au Conseil de la concurrence de rendre un avis sur les activités de fournisseur d'accès à Internet et la distribution de contenus exclusifs. Orange a lancé l'année dernière une chaîne de foot, réservée exclusivement à ses abonnés moyennant 6 euros mensuels. Puis, sur le même mode de distribution, la chaîne Orange cinema séries a vu le jour. Ces cinq chaînes consacrées au 7e art et aux fictions télévisées sont disponibles pour 12 euros mensuels. Au grand dam des autres opérateurs et FAI qui ne peuvent pas distribuer leur contenu à leurs propres abonnés.

• FR - Orange va en cassation après la perte de l'exclusivité du iPhone (Reuters)
  Orange a annoncé sa décision de se pourvoir en cassation après la confirmation par la cour d'appel de Paris de la suspension de son exclusivité sur la commercialisation de l'iPhone d'Apple en France. Rejetant un recours d'Apple et d'Orange, la cour d'appel a en effet validé la décision prise le 17 décembre par le Conseil de la concurrence, à la demande de Bouygues Telecom.

Issue no. 393 - 9 November 2008

• EU - Europe's Telecoms Incumbents: Friends or Foes of a Single Telecoms Market? (RAPID)
  Viviane Reding, EU Telecoms Commissioner, CEO Summit of the European Telecommunications Networks? Operators Associations, Venice, 25 October 2008.

Issue no. 392 - 5 October 2008

• US - Antitrust regulators seek more commitment from Microsoft (CNET News)
  Microsoft has made some progress developing a set of documents required as part of its antitrust consent decree, but the work could be accomplished much more quickly if the company took on a less grudging attitude, state and federal antitrust regulators said during a status conference meeting held to asses Microsoft's compliance with the consent decree.

Issue no. 390 - 20 July 2008

• EU - State aid for broadcasting (RAPID)
  Speech by Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Competition Policy, Medienforum, Cologne, 9th June 2008.

Issue no. 388 - 1 June 2008

• EU - BECTA to appeal about Microsoft Interoperability issue (ITProPortal.com)
  The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) is going forward with plans to appeal to the European Commission over the interoperability of Microsoft Products that are commonly used in the UK Education sector. BECTA has been pursuing two separate complaints, one regarding the way Microsoft licenses its products to schools and the other with regards to compatibility problems that have been plaguing Office 2007, especially when it comes to backward compatibility with Microsoft's own Office 2003 and Microsoft Works.

• EU - Commission clears TomTom's proposed acquisition of digital map provider Tele Atlas (RAPID)
  The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Tele Atlas by TomTom, both of the Netherlands. Tele Atlas is a provider of navigable digital maps and TomTom produces portable navigation devices (PNDs - often known as satellite navigation devices or SatNavs).

• UK - Call for controls on BBC website (BBC)
  There should be tighter controls on the management of the BBC's website - in part to prevent it stifling commercial rivals, the BBC Trust has said. After reviewing bbc.co.uk, the trust said it was "an excellent service" but that its content had to be different from that on rival websites. And it criticised the site's management for a £3.5m overspend last year.

Issue no. 387 - 12 May 2008

• EU - Microsoft appeals €899m EU fine (Guardian)
  Microsoft raised the stakes again in its long-running legal battle with the European Commission by lodging an appeal with the Court of First Instance against the record €899m fine imposed on February 27.

Issue no. 385 - 21 March 2008

• EU - Commission clears proposed acquisition of DoubleClick by Google (RAPID)
  The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the online advertising technology company DoubleClick by Google, both of the US. The Commission's in-depth investigation concluded that the transaction would be unlikely to have harmful effects on consumers, either in ad serving or in intermediation in online advertising markets. The Commission has therefore concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area (EEA) or a significant part of it.

• EU - EC fines Microsoft record $1.4bn (BBC News)
  The European Commission has fined US computer giant Microsoft for defying sanctions imposed on it for anti-competitive behaviour. Microsoft must now pay a record 899m euros ($1.4bn; £680.9m) after it failed to comply with a 2004 ruling that it abused its position. The ruling said that Microsoft was guilty of not providing key code to rival software makers. See also Commission Press Release and frequently asked questions.

• EU sends TomTom formal objections to Tele Atlas deal (Reuters)
  The European Commission is sending a "statement of objections" to TomTom on its plans to purchase map supplier Tele Atlas. TomTom, the world's biggest maker of car navigation devices, had offered some remedies to meet concerns within the European Commission that the deal would be anti-competitive but, the European Union executive was unable to accept them before the deadline for sending the "statement of objections" . The statement does not, however, mean the deal will be rejected. Instead, TomTom will have to come up with better remedies. The deadline for a decision is May 5.

Issue no. 384 - 24 February 2008

• US - Microsoft U.S. consent decree extended two more years (CNET)
  Microsoft will have to put up with another two years of court antitrust oversight, a federal judge has ruled. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly cited the length of time it has taken Microsoft to get its protocol licensing program up and running as the primary reason she is extending the consent decree. "The court's decision in this matter is based upon the extreme and unforeseen delay in the availability of complete, accurate, and useable technical documentation relating to the communications protocols," Kollar-Kotelly said.

Issue no. 383 - 27 January 2008

• EU - EC launches new Microsoft probes (BBC)
  The European Commission is launching two new anti-competition investigations against US computer giant Microsoft. The first will look at whether Microsoft unfairly ties its Explorer internet browser to its Windows operating system. In a parallel probe, the Commission will look at the interoperability of Microsoft software with rival products.

• EU - Commission launches public consultation on State funding of public service broadcasting (RAPID)
  The European Commission has published a consultation paper on the future framework which will apply to State funding of public service broadcasting. This consultation gives Member States and stakeholders the opportunity to submit their views at an early stage, before any Commission proposal, on the possible revision of the Broadcasting Communication. Comments should be submitted by 10 March 2008. Having reviewed the comments, the Commission may come forward later this year with a proposal for a revised Broadcasting Communication, with a view to its adoption in the first half of 2009.

Issue no. 382 - 6 January 2008

• EU - Commission authorises French aid scheme for video game creation (RAPID)
  The European Commission has authorised, under the EC Treaty rules on state aid, a French tax credit aimed at encouraging video game creation. This tax credit may be granted only to video games that meet the criteria of quality, originality, and contributing to cultural diversity. After an in-depth investigation that began in 2006, the Commission has concluded that this measure qualifies for the exemption provided for by the EC Treaty for aid to promote culture. See also UK Government and ELSPA speak out on French tax breaks (MCV).

Issue no. 381 - 8 December 2007

• EU - Antitrust probe against Qualcomm (Reuters)
  The European Commission launches a formal antitrust proceedings against U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm after complaints that its patent licensing for third-generation mobile telephones broke competition rules.

more items

QuickLinks consists of

• a free newsletter appearing approximately every two to three weeks. The newsletter is distributed by electronic mail through an "announcement only" mailing list.
• a Web site with frequent updates, an events page, news items organised by category as well as chronologically by issue and full text search.