FairSearch

FairSearch is a group of multinational businesses and organisations who lobby against the dominance of the Google search monopoly and various practices. The group has been characterised as a consumer protection organization,[1] a Google watchdog,[2] as well as a front group for its members which are Google's competitors,[3] the latter being Google's position.[4] According to Nicolas Petit, a professor of competition law at the University of Liège, FairSearch is "seen by many observers as a Microsoft trojan horse".[3]

Current prominent members include Expedia, Microsoft, Oracle and Nokia[5]

History

Established in October 2010,[6] FairSearch was formed by travel verticals and online travel agencies to oppose Google’s acquisition of travel software firm ITA[7] swiftly followed by Microsoft in December that same year.[8] In September 2012 Oracle and Nokia joined[9] in filing a complaint regarding Android with the European Commission, alleging that its free-of-charge distribution model constituted anti-competitive predatory pricing. The Free Software Foundation Europe, whose donors include Google, disputed the FairSearch allegations.[10] In 2014 as a part of the EC antitrust investigation, Google was forced to display search engine results from its rivals more prominently but avoided a potential $5 billion fine,[11] the result of which FairSearch described as 'disappointing and premature' and said it would 'continue work with authorities in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere who are investigating Google'[12]

Since at least 2011, former US attorney general Patrick Lynch has worked closely with FairSearch and the Digital Citizens Alliance, sending dozens of letters and emails to attorneys generals around the United States, repeatedly urging them to investigate Google.[13]

External links

References

  1. ↑ Sherman, Chris (September 21, 2011). "Do The Majority Of Americans Think Google Is Unfair?". Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Savov, Vlad (April 12, 2013). "What is FairSearch and why does it hate Google so much?". Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Keizer, Gregg (Apr 9, 2013). "Microsoft not fooling anyone by using FairSearch front in antitrust complaint against Google". Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Who is FairSearch.org?". Google. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "About FairSearch.org". Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Carlos Perez, Juan (12 October 2011). "Google probed by industry pressure group FairSearch.org". Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  7. ↑ WASSERMAN, ELIZABETH (24 February 2011). "DOJ threatens to nix Google merger". Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Sterling, Greg (December 15, 2010). "Microsoft Joins FairSearch Group Opposing Google-ITA Acquisition". Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Sasso, Brendan (19 September 2012). "Oracle and Nokia join anti-Google lobbying group". Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "FSFE objects to claims of 'predatory pricing' in Free Software". Free Software Foundation Europe. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  11. ↑ CAIN MILLER, CLAIRE (5 February 2014). "Google Settles Its European Antitrust Case; Critics Remain". Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  12. ↑ Gustin, Sam (4 January 2013). "Google’s Federal Antitrust Deal Cheered by Some, Jeered by Others". Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Former Attorney General Lynch anti google emails". http://www.nytimes.com/''. Retrieved 28 December 2014.