EMMA`s responds to Google`s anti-trust proposal
This is the responds to Google`s proposal 1 because of anti-trust issues. In short, EMMA rejects it because it is a flawed deal.
In the proposal Google gives the publishers Rival Links, where publishers can bid on. Therefore EMMA argues:
" Rival Links are not a concession but a new revenue stream for Google "
They also argue that the opt-out via robots.txt is not a real option due to Universal Search 2. Meaning that once opt-outed from Google News the news sites would also get a hit in general search. Namely the EMMA argues:
" using its monopoly in search Google has made it economically impossible for content providers to disallow Google`s use of content within its specialised search services "
At the end the EMMA argues that the commission didn`t look at:
- Google promoting its own products like Google+
- Demoting of rivals in the search results by " unannounced and unjustified algorithm changes "
- Google`s knowledge panel that gives direct answers and, thereby, not sending any traffic to the content providers.
I think these are the main concerns from EMMA but you can find the full explanation on
http://www.magazinemedia.eu/wp-content/uploads/14-09-04-Publishers-Response-on-Third-Set-of-Commitments.pdf
1 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-87_en.htm
2 http://googleblog.blogspot.nl/2007/05/universal-search-best-answer-is-still.html
European press publishers urge the Commission to stop Google’s abusive promotion of its own services and restore competition to the digital economy | Emma – European Magazine Media Association // Brussels
