EU May Probe Google Over Youtube's Dominance
The European Union Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said on Monday he could investigate Google's YouTube if he saw any attempt by the company to abuse its dominant position in online video searching.
"We are receiving more complaints, for instance the way Google leverages the search engine," Almunia told a Chatham House conference.
"YouTube for instance, it's another kind of activity where Google can also leverage their market power in search engine, and maybe this will give way to another investigation," he said.
The EU has been also inverstigating Google's dominant position in the search engine market, in a case that will most likely close soon without any significant penalties for the search giant.
Last week, music trade association Impala asked European Union antitrust regulators to intervene in a row with YouTube over its paid streaming music service, saying some conditions demanded by the company were anti-competitive.
Youtube's new service is expected to launch by the end of the summer. The European Commission is also investigating certain Google practices relating to the Android ecosystem. The inverstigation is currently in the fact-finding stage and formal proceedings have not been opened, Almunia said.
"YouTube for instance, it's another kind of activity where Google can also leverage their market power in search engine, and maybe this will give way to another investigation," he said.
The EU has been also inverstigating Google's dominant position in the search engine market, in a case that will most likely close soon without any significant penalties for the search giant.
Last week, music trade association Impala asked European Union antitrust regulators to intervene in a row with YouTube over its paid streaming music service, saying some conditions demanded by the company were anti-competitive.
Youtube's new service is expected to launch by the end of the summer. The European Commission is also investigating certain Google practices relating to the Android ecosystem. The inverstigation is currently in the fact-finding stage and formal proceedings have not been opened, Almunia said.
