Directory websites fighting back?

[martin-s]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32315649

 

[Trigger Happy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32315649

To me Google seems like the best price comparison site in terms of features and comprehensiveness.

Where does that leave everyone else? whats the point of them?

 

[UncleBob]

so, in short, company to be punished for using its own product to promote its own product?

the big companies jumping on the bandwagon of support for the EU may wish to watch their step, who knows what use of your own product - one that you give away to the world for free, no less - may next be considered unfair.

 

[AssetDomains]

No there product was search and they earn quite handsomely from it when they realised they were the gateway to the whole internet for most people in the EU they stated to muscle in on everyone else's internet business

 

[martin-s]

It's a monopoly. That's what happens.

 

[Paullas]

It's a monopoly. That's what happens.

Like Nominet then

 

[martin-s]

Actually, they don't do that great a job of search - and it is a monopoly, despite the competition.

The EU is absolutely right to try and reign in Google's activities.

If you look at an analysis of screen space for most searches, more than 50% is now paid.

The fact that they're injecting their businesses into the search at the expense of others is an abuse of power.

 

[dazc]

so, in short, company to be punished for using its own product to promote its own product?

the big companies jumping on the bandwagon of support for the EU may wish to watch their step, who knows what use of your own product - one that you give away to the world for free, no less - may next be considered unfair.

It's also worth pointing out that Google's shopping results are the only a chance a smaller merchant has of appearing on page one. Remove the shopping results and they are only going to found on page 56.

 

[UncleBob]

It's also worth pointing out that Google's shopping results are the only a chance a smaller merchant has of appearing on page one. Remove the shopping results and they are only going to found on page 56.

fair point. i am not unsympathetic to people trying to make a living - far from it. i just think sometimes we overlook that Google is very much Google's train set. is it that they are doing something illegal to get ahead or are they just using their own product for success?

 

[UncleBob]

by all means Governments should go after them in regards of tax with that success level they have, but saying to them "stop being successful and growing with that thing you have created" is just plain bizarre. unless there's a case where Google have, blatantly, deliberately and clearly, changed what they do and how they do it to smash one particular business into the ground.

maybe it's just my outlook - i don't count other people's money. those that have been a success and made a fortune i wish all the best to, those that have not well i hope their fortune changes and they get what they want in this world.

basically, if anyone asked us would we like to have done and achieved what Google has, we would all answer yes before the question was finished.