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| FTC appoints high-profile lawyer to oversee Google antitrust case | FTC appoints high-profile lawyer to oversee Google antitrust case |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US Federal Trade Commission has hired a prominent trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor to oversee its broad investigation into Google's business practices, signalling the agency is troubled by what it has discovered in a year. | The US Federal Trade Commission has hired a prominent trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor to oversee its broad investigation into Google's business practices, signalling the agency is troubled by what it has discovered in a year. |
| Former justice department prosecutor Beth Wilkinson – who has won 40 cases and lost none in which she has litigated – will take the reins as the FTC digs deeper into allegations Google abused its dominance of internet search to stifle competition and drive up online advertising prices. | Former justice department prosecutor Beth Wilkinson – who has won 40 cases and lost none in which she has litigated – will take the reins as the FTC digs deeper into allegations Google abused its dominance of internet search to stifle competition and drive up online advertising prices. |
| The FTC announced the move on Thursday. | The FTC announced the move on Thursday. |
| Meanwhile the European commission has given no indication of whether it will take a similar move against Google, as a result of its investigations into similar antitrust claims against the search giant, which has a larger share of the market in Europe than in the US – at more than 90% compared with about 70%. But its antitrust team led by Joaquín Almunia has been deliberating for months, raising expectations it will either initiate an investigation or possibly work with the FTC on a settlement. | Meanwhile the European commission has given no indication of whether it will take a similar move against Google, as a result of its investigations into similar antitrust claims against the search giant, which has a larger share of the market in Europe than in the US – at more than 90% compared with about 70%. But its antitrust team led by Joaquín Almunia has been deliberating for months, raising expectations it will either initiate an investigation or possibly work with the FTC on a settlement. |
| Wilkinson is best known for helping to convict Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in 1997. Now a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in Washington DC, Wilkinson also has experience in antitrust law and white-collar criminal cases. | Wilkinson is best known for helping to convict Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in 1997. Now a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in Washington DC, Wilkinson also has experience in antitrust law and white-collar criminal cases. |
| The FTC stressed that Wilkinson's hiring should not be interpreted as a sign it definitely intends to sue Google. | The FTC stressed that Wilkinson's hiring should not be interpreted as a sign it definitely intends to sue Google. |
| "We are delighted to have someone of her calibre helping us on such an important matter," said Richard Feinstein, director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. Wilkinson's involvement in the case is, however, a clear sign the FTC's staff has uncovered problems that may require taking Google to court to resolve, said Dave Wales, who preceded Feinstein as the FTC's director of competition. | "We are delighted to have someone of her calibre helping us on such an important matter," said Richard Feinstein, director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. Wilkinson's involvement in the case is, however, a clear sign the FTC's staff has uncovered problems that may require taking Google to court to resolve, said Dave Wales, who preceded Feinstein as the FTC's director of competition. |
| "This may not be a declaration of all-out war, but it's like things have been ratcheted up to Defcon 4," said Wales, now a partner at the law firm of Jones Day. "You don't do something like this unless you think there is a good chance there will be litigation." | "This may not be a declaration of all-out war, but it's like things have been ratcheted up to Defcon 4," said Wales, now a partner at the law firm of Jones Day. "You don't do something like this unless you think there is a good chance there will be litigation." |
| Wilkinson's involvement in the investigation also may give FTC more leverage to negotiate a settlement, Wales said. He predicted it could be a year or more before there's a settlement or lawsuit. | Wilkinson's involvement in the investigation also may give FTC more leverage to negotiate a settlement, Wales said. He predicted it could be a year or more before there's a settlement or lawsuit. |
| Google declined to comment on the appointment of Wilkinson. The company, based in Mountain View, California, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. | Google declined to comment on the appointment of Wilkinson. The company, based in Mountain View, California, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. |
| The FTC's investigation was triggered by complaints Google has been highlighting its peripheral services in its influential search results and relegating offerings from its rivals to the back pages. The agency also has been examining whether Google has rigged its results in a way that has impelled websites to pay more to promote their services through Google's advertising network. | The FTC's investigation was triggered by complaints Google has been highlighting its peripheral services in its influential search results and relegating offerings from its rivals to the back pages. The agency also has been examining whether Google has rigged its results in a way that has impelled websites to pay more to promote their services through Google's advertising network. |
| Facebook, Myspace and Twitter chide Google with 'Don't be evil' add-on | Facebook, Myspace and Twitter chide Google with 'Don't be evil' add-on |
| 24 Jan 2012 | 24 Jan 2012 |
| Browser bookmarklet will show US users how search results should look if Google's changes – which artificially push Google+ results up rankings – are reversed. By Charles Arthur | Browser bookmarklet will show US users how search results should look if Google's changes – which artificially push Google+ results up rankings – are reversed. By Charles Arthur |
| 8 Sep 2010 | 8 Sep 2010 |
| Google logo games may hint at the future of search | Google logo games may hint at the future of search |
| 21 May 2012 | 21 May 2012 |
| Google given last chance to outline how it will end antitrust concerns | Google given last chance to outline how it will end antitrust concerns |
| 22 Jun 2012 | 22 Jun 2012 |
| Google accused of withholding evidence from Texas antitrust probe | Google accused of withholding evidence from Texas antitrust probe |
| 23 Feb 2006 | 23 Feb 2006 |
| As long as Google sells ads, publishers be damned | As long as Google sells ads, publishers be damned |
| Bing gets social as it leapfrogs Google with Facebook, Twitter – and Google+ | |
| 11 May 2012 | |
| Updates to the perenially cash-bleeding search engine mean that it now includes data from your social networks - including the biggest two that Google can't reach. By Charles Arthur | |
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| Former justice department prosecutor, Beth Wilkinson, is best known for helping to convict the Oklahoma City bomber | Former justice department prosecutor, Beth Wilkinson, is best known for helping to convict the Oklahoma City bomber |
| The US Federal Trade Commission has hired a prominent trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor to oversee its broad investigation into Google's business practices, signalling the agency is troubled by what it has discovered in a year. | The US Federal Trade Commission has hired a prominent trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor to oversee its broad investigation into Google's business practices, signalling the agency is troubled by what it has discovered in a year. |
| Former justice department prosecutor Beth Wilkinson – who has won 40 cases and lost none in which she has litigated – will take the reins as the FTC digs deeper into allegations Google abused its dominance of internet search to stifle competition and drive up online advertising prices. | Former justice department prosecutor Beth Wilkinson – who has won 40 cases and lost none in which she has litigated – will take the reins as the FTC digs deeper into allegations Google abused its dominance of internet search to stifle competition and drive up online advertising prices. |
| The FTC announced the move on Thursday. | The FTC announced the move on Thursday. |
| Meanwhile the European commission has given no indication of whether it will take a similar move against Google, as a result of its investigations into similar antitrust claims against the search giant, which has a larger share of the market in Europe than in the US – at more than 90% compared with about 70%. But its antitrust team led by Joaquín Almunia has been deliberating for months, raising expectations it will either initiate an investigation or possibly work with the FTC on a settlement. | Meanwhile the European commission has given no indication of whether it will take a similar move against Google, as a result of its investigations into similar antitrust claims against the search giant, which has a larger share of the market in Europe than in the US – at more than 90% compared with about 70%. But its antitrust team led by Joaquín Almunia has been deliberating for months, raising expectations it will either initiate an investigation or possibly work with the FTC on a settlement. |
| Wilkinson is best known for helping to convict Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in 1997. Now a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in Washington DC, Wilkinson also has experience in antitrust law and white-collar criminal cases. | Wilkinson is best known for helping to convict Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in 1997. Now a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in Washington DC, Wilkinson also has experience in antitrust law and white-collar criminal cases. |
| The FTC stressed that Wilkinson's hiring should not be interpreted as a sign it definitely intends to sue Google. | The FTC stressed that Wilkinson's hiring should not be interpreted as a sign it definitely intends to sue Google. |
| "We are delighted to have someone of her calibre helping us on such an important matter," said Richard Feinstein, director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. Wilkinson's involvement in the case is, however, a clear sign the FTC's staff has uncovered problems that may require taking Google to court to resolve, said Dave Wales, who preceded Feinstein as the FTC's director of competition. | "We are delighted to have someone of her calibre helping us on such an important matter," said Richard Feinstein, director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. Wilkinson's involvement in the case is, however, a clear sign the FTC's staff has uncovered problems that may require taking Google to court to resolve, said Dave Wales, who preceded Feinstein as the FTC's director of competition. |
| "This may not be a declaration of all-out war, but it's like things have been ratcheted up to Defcon 4," said Wales, now a partner at the law firm of Jones Day. "You don't do something like this unless you think there is a good chance there will be litigation." | "This may not be a declaration of all-out war, but it's like things have been ratcheted up to Defcon 4," said Wales, now a partner at the law firm of Jones Day. "You don't do something like this unless you think there is a good chance there will be litigation." |
| Wilkinson's involvement in the investigation also may give FTC more leverage to negotiate a settlement, Wales said. He predicted it could be a year or more before there's a settlement or lawsuit. | Wilkinson's involvement in the investigation also may give FTC more leverage to negotiate a settlement, Wales said. He predicted it could be a year or more before there's a settlement or lawsuit. |
| Google declined to comment on the appointment of Wilkinson. The company, based in Mountain View, California, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. | Google declined to comment on the appointment of Wilkinson. The company, based in Mountain View, California, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. |
| The FTC's investigation was triggered by complaints Google has been highlighting its peripheral services in its influential search results and relegating offerings from its rivals to the back pages. The agency also has been examining whether Google has rigged its results in a way that has impelled websites to pay more to promote their services through Google's advertising network. | The FTC's investigation was triggered by complaints Google has been highlighting its peripheral services in its influential search results and relegating offerings from its rivals to the back pages. The agency also has been examining whether Google has rigged its results in a way that has impelled websites to pay more to promote their services through Google's advertising network. |