The European Union (EU) review of Google's $3.1bn (£1.5bn) bid for DoubleClick will focus solely on the competition aspects of the deal and not privacy issues. The European Commission will decide by the end of the month whether to approve the deal or examine it further.
But privacy issues raised by the deal will not be taken into account at all, according to EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes. "We are looking at the influence on competition and that is it," she said.
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News source: vnunet
But privacy issues raised by the deal will not be taken into account at all, according to EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes. "We are looking at the influence on competition and that is it," she said.
View: The full story News source: vnunet
I guess they're corrupt for not taking money from the corporations to not look for issues?
Hopefully they'll take you up on that offer.
this ppl is kidding, right?. Now what? europe now is america?. COME ON!.
Both Google and Doubeclick comply with EU privacy laws, the combined company surely would ... what is to investigate?
No country on earth has legislation outlawing a "privacy monopoly" ...
So they should stick to the typical merger/aquisition investigation.
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Seems some people don't understand the US government investigates mergers too ...
People can choose to use Google or not, surely that's easy for anyone to understand.
Privacy and Monopoly are two different things. People can swap search engines at a wink!
Google/ Windows / Intel / [Insert any technology here] or not, surely that's easy for anyone to understand.And yet the EU still went for the cash grab.
Based on their past lawsuits there is absolutely no reason why they wouldn't go for a Google cash grab too. It makes about as much sense as their Microsoft and Intel robberies.
Google/ Windows / Intel / [Insert any technology here] or not, surely that's easy for anyone to understand.And yet the EU still went for the cash grab.
Based on their past lawsuits there is absolutely no reason why they wouldn't go for a Google cash grab too. It makes about as much sense as their Microsoft and Intel robberies.
That about sums it up.
Google/ Windows / Intel / [Insert any technology here] or not, surely that's easy for anyone to understand.And yet the EU still went for the cash grab.
Based on their past lawsuits there is absolutely no reason why they wouldn't go for a Google cash grab too. It makes about as much sense as their Microsoft and Intel robberies.
Sure they can choose Intel, those kickbacks Intel give on the side will in no way hamper their choice ... except, they will. The stores won't stock AMD, you can choose a store too I guess, but the little ones will be out of business and the big ones will all be getting money on the side from Intel.
You're entire anti-monopoly point seems to be as long as there is more than 1 player, it doesn't matter what the hell the big kid does ... which is fine until in 5 years when there is only the big kid left standing.
What is it about cash? Would you prefer they didn't get a fine? Would you prefer that they were voluntarily given the money so they wouldn't investigate the company?
As for past lawsuits, they're not lawsuits - they're investigtions brought by the soveriegn government of the land.
Robberies? They put their money in Europe ... maybe because our economy isn't supported by war and debt and won't collapse in a few years.
Google/ Windows / Intel / [Insert any technology here] or not, surely that's easy for anyone to understand.When was the last time you had to pay Google? If I buy (bought) a PC, I have alway been forced to buy Microsoft, they even took royalties if no O/S was installed. Do a little homework... you are showing your age! Similarly Intel have done everything to destroy competition. The corruption by big business has just about brought the US economy to it's knees.
Wake up man... and the rest of America! Say goodbye to the once mighty Dollar, and your "freedom"!
The EU is part of the "New World Order" your president and his father have been working for!
Last edited by boho on 16 Oct 2007 - 10:36
Uhh, robberies? Anyway, you're comparing apples and oranges here... If both Google and Doubleclick have complied to the EU privacy laws, what is your problem with these companies? Let's leave MS and Intel out of this -- they weren't even investigated for the same reasons as Google/Doubleclick could have been here.
You have to ask what would happen if they DIDN'T fine companies breaking the rules? What's the incentive for that company to abide by the rules if it doesn't affect their bottom line? At the end of the day if the companies didn't break rules in the first place then they wouldn't have to pay the fines. Microsoft and Intel both broke the EU's anti-competition regulations and were punished for doing so - people here seem to suggest that they should just be patted on the head and told to run along.
I prefer the EU system (that focuses on the individual) to that of the US (that focuses on the corporations) where companies are basically left to do what they want, which then restricts consumer choice and defeats the whole point of a "free" market - the big players dominate the little ones and there is little to no opportunity to change that. I prefer a system that favours in the individual rather than the coporation... afterall, businesses are comprised of individuals.
I don't know why Americans think that this is a attack on America itself. These companies, American or not, are doing shady business and are hurting the competition in this region off the world. The EU is doing the right thing by taking a hard stance on these cases.
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About Google:
The EU does not suspect Google or DoubleClick are violating any privacy issues so they are not looking into it BUT they are looking into the effects on the competition aspects.
Pip'
As for EU jobs, there is no reason to think this will mean more jobs in the EU - Google and Doubleclick are established here, as with most mergers its likely to mean less jobs.
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