ACCC V Google - first day of hearing - Search Engine Govt, Policy, and Business Issues forum at WebmasterWorld

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ACCC V Google - first day of hearing

Australian Consumer Competition

Chris_D

8:03 am on Sep 10, 2007 (gmt 0)

Follows on from previous discussion [webmasterworld.com...]

GOOGLE has been selling off the top rankings on its search engine results to commercial partners, rather than sorting them by relevance as it claims to, a Sydney court has heard.
The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) is taking world-first legal action in the Federal Court against Google Inc over allegedly deceptive conduct related to sponsored links on its websites.

[news.com.au...]

Day one in court - hearing adjourned to October 4

goodroi

12:54 am on Sep 11, 2007 (gmt 0)

What would you want to come out of this? A Google victory and a vote for free business or the Aussies toasting Google on the barbie as they restrain the 900 lb gorilla?

Chris_D

2:47 am on Sep 11, 2007 (gmt 0)

As an Aussie, its pretty embarrasing really. The ACCC can't even understand the petrol pricing process - let alone get their heads around how search engines operate... and yet they are taking Google to court.

vincevincevince

3:00 am on Sep 11, 2007 (gmt 0)

It will be an interesting case to watch and if it forces Google to adjust the format of the top-box Adwords then it could have significant knock-on effects both for Google and for users of Adwords.

I hope that Australian Adsense users who blend their units are paying close attention as they could be the next in the firing line should this go against Google.