Brussels, 28/08/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 28 August, the European Commission confirmed that it has received a reply from US internet giant Google to the Commission's statement of objections. “We will carefully consider Google's response before taking any decision on how to proceed and do not want to prejudge the final outcome of the investigation,” said European Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso in an email to the press.
On Thursday, Kent Walker, senior vice-president and legal director of Google, published a long statement on a blog rejecting the Commission's arguments and in the EU's statement of objections as “wrong as a matter of fact, law and economics.” The statement of objections sent to Google in April is about Google Shopping, the US giant's online shopping comparison system. “The statement of objections (SO) says that Google's displays of paid ads from merchants (and, previously, of specialized groups of organic search results) “diverted” traffic away from shopping services. But the SO doesn't back up that claim, doesn't counter the significant benefits to consumers and advertisers, and doesn't provide a clear legal theory to connect its claims with its proposed remedy,” writes Walker, adding: “That's not “favoring” -- that's giving our customers and advertisers what they find most useful.”
The IComp network has reacted directly to Google's blog, stating that it was “simply another attempt to divert attention away from the devastating impact their self-preferencing has had on the online market.” “If Google truly believes in the interest of promoting user choice and open competition, and in the strengths of its arguments, we would urge them to make their case in front of the Commission and complainants at an oral hearing,” argues IComp. Google has refused to accept any such hearing. The Commission would not comment on timing for the next steps in the investigation. It is possible that it might make a decision based on Google's response, or hold a new consultation with the plaintiffs. (Elodie Lamer)