What Google’s FTC Deal Means for the Patent Wars
Google‘s landmark deal with the U.S. government, which was announced last week and ends a two-year federal investigation, has gotten a lot of attention, primarily for the Federal Trade Commission’s conclusion that Google has not violated antitrust law. But the second component of the pact, in which Google agreed to grant rivals access to certain basic technology patents, is worth scrutiny as well, because it could have important ramifications in the ongoing intellectual property wars that have roiled the technology industry over the last several years. During a press conference, FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz asserted that the patent agreement with Google could serve as a “template” for other patent disputes, and could reduce patent litigation — and litigation costs — for companies throughout the tech industry. That, of course, would be a good thing, because there is general agreement among tech and legal experts that there is something seriously wrong with the current U.S. intellectual ...
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Google Set to Dodge Federal Antitrust Lawsuit with FTC Deal: Report
Internet search giant Google is poised to avoid a major federal antitrust lawsuit after a nearly two-year government investigation into its Web search practices, Bloomberg reported late Wednesday. The agreement, which was expected, will conclude the Federal Trade Commission’s probe into whether Google has used its search market power to unfairly harm rivals. A group of Google’s competitors, including Microsoft and Yelp, have been lobbying the government for several years in an effort to prod federal officials to go after the search giant on antitrust grounds. Google dominates the Web search space, with about 70% market share. Google’s agreement with the feds, which is expected to be announced Thursday, is a significant blow to its rivals, some of which were hoping the federal government would file a high-profile lawsuit against the company, as it did with Microsoft in the 1990s. (MORE: Six Tech/Media Stories to Watch in 2013) As part of the deal, Google will reportedly make a set ...
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United States: "Fair, Adequate And Reasonable": Federal Judge Approves The FTC’s $22.5 Million Settlement With Google - Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
As previously reported in this blog , Google, Inc. agreed to pay $22.5 Million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it misrepresented its data collection practices to users of Apple, Inc.’s Safari Internet browser .
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Google CEO Meets with Feds as U.S. Senator Blasts FTC Over Antitrust Probe
With the clock ticking down until a crucial Federal Trade Commission vote over whether to sue Google for antitrust violations, the search giant’s CEO Larry Page met with federal officials in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. The meeting, which was first reported by Bloomberg, came one day after a powerful U.S. Senator sent a letter to the FTC expressing concern about the way the agency has been conducting its investigation. The FTC is wrapping up a nearly two-year investigation into whether Google has used its search market power to unfairly harm rival companies. Google and the FTC have been conducting negotiations for several weeks to see if a settlement is possible. If no deal is reached, the FTC will proceed in the coming days with a vote that will determine whether the commission files a lawsuit. If the FTC votes to sue Google, it would be the most dramatic antitrust action taken by the U.S. government against a major technology company since the Department of Justice sued Microsoft in ...
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Sue or Settle? Feds Face Crunch Time Over Google Antitrust Decision
The Federal Trade Commission is nearing a critical decision on the next step of its nearly two-year investigation into whether Internet search titan Google has used its market power to harm rivals. The FTC could file a lawsuit against Google, or the commission could reach a settlement with the tech giant. The decision about whether to sue or settle will likely help define FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz’s legacy at an agency where he has served for more than eight years, including the last three as chairman. Leibowitz is expected to soon leave the FTC and enter the private sector. Last month, Reuters reported that four of the five FTC commissioners had concluded that Google has used its search market dominance to harm its rivals. Agency investigators circulated a draft memo recommending legal action against Google. Last week, Bloomberg reported that the FTC has delivered “an ultimatum” to Google demanding that the search giant offer a plan to settle the investigation, or face a lawsuit. If ...
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