Rivals don’t trust Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s anti-trust “test-phase” effectivity

Northern, WI 04/15/2013 (avauncer) –The Financial Times reported that the operator of the largest search engine in the world, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) (Closed: $790.05, Down by 0.04%) has finalized a draft agreement with the EU over the steps that it will incorporate to curb all kinds of anti-competitive behavior. Its rivals had alleged that the company had breached anti-trust laws in the European Union. Google has agreed to make changes to its results page and will now include prominent links to its competitors search engines.

Feedback will be solicited

The FT reported that in addition to this the Mountain View, California-based company will also ensure that users are informed when they use the Google search services such as the ones that offer travel, finance and restaurant information. If the deal meets EU approval, Google will then not be liable to pay a fine for breaching anti-trust laws. The company has been investigated for close to three years on these complaints. The offer will be binding for a period of five years and will now be entering the “market-test“phase.

Results not trusted

During this phase, participants including the companies that have filed these complaints against Google will be asked to provide feedback. Icomp (Initiative for a Competitive Online Marketplace), which is an alliance of 70 different technology trade associations and companies has said that the proposal may not have the expected result. In an emailed statement iComp said that the main concern that has been voiced by several complainants is that the settlement offer that has been put forth by Google will fail to deliver. This should be looked-upon as an opportunity to ensure that future-proof and effective remedies are delivered.

No harm done says U.S

Last week an anti-trust complaint had been filed by FairSearch, a group that represents Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) (Closed: $28.79, Down by 0.50%), Nokia Oyj (HEL:NOK1V) (Closed:2.62 EUR, down by 1.50%) and Expedia Inc, against Google. FairSearch said that its Android operating system is used in 70 percent of the smartphones that were in the market at the end of last year. In addition to this the mobile search advertising space is also dominated by Google. In January, the United States had ended an investigation into the company’s search business and said that there was no evidence that Google’s actions had harmed any consumers.

On April 11, A Brussels-based spokesperson for Google, Al Verney said that the company will continue to cooperate with the European Union.