Google Claims IE's Searchbar Is Uncompetitive
from the this-could-backfire dept
Although Google is trouncing Microsoft in the search wars, they're using every option to go after their rival. The company has been talking to the Justice Department about the fact that Microsoft's forthcoming IE7 will have a searchbox pointing to MSN. They claim that this move is similar to other actions by the company, which got them into trouble in the past. This argument seems flawed for several reasons. It's very easy for the consumer to switch browsers, unlike operating systems. The rapid growth of Firefox proves that the company has no monopoly when it comes to browsers. Even within IE, it will be easy to add the Google toolbar or go to Google.com in the address bar. There's also the fact that Google has signed deals with Firefox and Opera to be the anchor tenant of their searchbars. By getting into bed with the government in going after a distant rival, the company is probably making a strategic mistake. Like Netflix's suit against Blockbuster, they may legitimize MSN search, to both consumers and analysts. More importantly, a company with the market position that Google has is bound to regret any move that expands the scope of antitrust case law. Would anyone be surprised if at some point the government investigates Google's "bundling" of search and email? Google's doing a great job competing with Microsoft; it's hard to see what they have to gain by getting the government more involved in their battles.
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Your wrong
Google has a strong case, although the Bush DOJ couldn't give a rat's ass about the law.
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Re: Your wrong
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Re: Re: Your wrong
Um, do you feel smarter or better for yourself now? Seriously, that was a useless comment, grow up.
(Yeah, this is a useless comment too)
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Re: Your wrong
You group people into arbitrary, limiting, and illusionary groups that can in no way be representative of the whole. Your *apparent* self identification with "non-bush" or "non-microsoft" is dependent upon the existence of these two negated entities in question. However, I fail to see any insight or out-sight gained from your post. So I ask, what is the use of your time and ours in such a non-responsive action?
Condition yourself more, perhaps....
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Oh get real
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Good Products Don't Always Win
Sometimes things have too much momentum to be displaced. Here IE has too much momentum to not have a negative effect on Google if they don't offer the user a choice on first run.
Seems to me the techdirt summary is missing some points.
PS I know Fuel Cells have other issues, like hydrogen storage, and production of storage, but some basic research 60 years ago could have addressed these problems a long time ago by now.
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uh, who's wrong?
Yes, IE is bundled; no they have never been called a monopoly by any court (submit proof if you have it); that market share is calculated based on usage, and most users don't know how to upgrade to a real browser; once again, the only way MS could be a monopoly is if they had no competition for the PC market - last time I checked there were enough Linux distros to start a basketball team, and then some which constitutes competition; they have always set their products to point to their website. to do otherwise would be idiocy, and without the expierience of being the CEO of MS you cannot argue otherwise.
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gOOGLE in firefox
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Case looks weak to me.
Google is not stupid; they must already know this, so I assume they have legal fine print supporting their case, but it really looks asinine from where I'm sitting.
I definitely favor Google over Microsoft, but it's not without some mixed feelings. As Google has gained power, they have striven for less accountability, and deep down I think they'd love to be a monopoly themselves, just one that's well-covered legally.
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Re: Case looks weak to me.
First, MS has been found a Monopoly which acknowledges that they have an unfair advantage in bundling features to their OS.
Second, Google pays for the placement in FF, MS won't pay for placement in IE.
MS is relying on human nature, if it is good enough, then they won't change. And this is all about the money, not better search.
It will be interesting to see how difficult it will be to change default search engines.
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And to those who argue this case, then which search engine should microsoft point to? ...since obviously they will be pointing to some search engine.
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Google the pot?
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More related to this article though, I think this is a huge mistake for Google. I love the Google search, I think it works great. GMail is awesome. But the biggest asset they have is their name. They're Google, everyone wants google, google good, MS bad. This move puts them into this whole whiner category, it takes from there name; that's never good.
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RE: Matt's comments
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The Average Idiot
I agree with Techdirt that Google and MS both fight dirty, though. So if Google want's the referees to call the game consistantly, then they can't bitch when MS uses some of the same tactics that they do (ie. Google's bundling of software and deals w/ Opera, Firefox)
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Re:
This kind of comment blindly assumes that without MS there wouldn't be a computing industry. Which is kinda stupid an assumption. Without MS we'd have been a bit behind 10 years ago, but since then, the increased competition of an industry without a single vendor would have made the whole industry richer as a whole. All we owe MS is thanks for making the computing industry boring and stagnant for the last decade.
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Re: Re:
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Re:
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MS has been ruled a monopoly
http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/f3800/msjudgex.htm
34. Viewed together, three main facts indicate that Microsoft enjoys monopoly power. First, Microsoft’s share of the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems is extremely large and stable. Second, Microsoft’s dominant market share is protected by a high barrier to
entry. Third, and largely as a result of that barrier, Microsoft’s customers lack a commercially viable alternative to Windows.
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Re: MS has been ruled a monopoly
Monopoly = BS... People buys from them and grows in size and people whine about them being too big = stupid cause they can always still buy other products and so on forth...
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Re: Re: MS has been ruled a monopoly
Cite a source, Jonathon.
In English, preferably.
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Re: MS has been ruled a monopoly
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Yahoo search tool in Firefox
Options are already installed.
Unlike IE7.
"Otherwise they'd be under Linux fighting their way up the ladder. "
Who would?
Google? Why?
"I just think this has got to be the stupidest lawsuit of all."
Why? Alot of people bitch about lawsuits, and how ridiculous they are. Some of these people are forgetting that a lawsuit is the door through which a citizen (a corporation, or individual) accesses the legal process.
If someone thinks someone is doing something wrong, they press charges if the matter is criminal; or sue if the matter is not. This is how things were designed.
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Re: Yahoo search tool in Firefox
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Pot calling Kettle black
Guess what. Google is the default search engine for FireFox, Safari, Opera, and a slew of desktop and browser toolbars.
Is Microsoft crying over Google being the defactor search engine in all these cases?
No, instead, microsoft is promoting their Own search technology in their OWN browser for their Own OS. I mean, to put it to Google another way, if you HAD your own Browser and HAD your own OS, would you ensure that people could select MSN as their default search engine too? F*ck no! You would ensure that its Google tools and technology for every freaking search, mail, spell checker feature in that bastard OS.
Yes, Google does dominate the search engine arena, but that is ONLY because they are guilty of the same anti-competitive practices that Microsoft has done in the past. Firefox did not ask my which search engine I want to use, it Defaulted to Google, so too did Safari and Opera. Google is forming relationships with anybody that will sleep with them, and that is a very long list.
IE7 WILL allow you to select Google in a simply options panel, change it once, and forget about it JUST LIKE FIREFOX AND SAFARI AND OPERA, etc. Why does everybody bitch when its an MS feature but the SAME thing happens with every other OS and browser.
So, get over it, period! Most of you won't even use IE7 when it comes out, you will stick with Firefox and stick with Google because that was the default search engine that Firefox set up.
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Re: Pot calling Kettle black
If you can't see how it is an unfair business advantage for MS to promote their own products using their unfairly aquired market share then I despair for you.
In fact I'd still be on Google's side here if MS had fairly aquired their browser market share. There has to be limits on what super-huge comanies can do so the smaller players can get in on the action. Yes Google is not a small player, but it is a specialist provider. MS want to have fingers in every pie, and such a homogeny of technology solutions will not benefit the IT industry or its consumers.
Yes I will be wanting google to stop being the default on Opera and Firefox (without an explicit dialog asking for choice) when their market share exceeds IE's too.
WTF is with people? This is easy to think about, it's a matter of everything in sensible moderation.
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Gee, I had no problems...
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Google = IE autosearch hijackers = hypocrites
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Re: Google = IE autosearch hijackers = hypocrites
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Re: Re: Google = IE autosearch hijackers = hypocri
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IE7 - End of Google's Reign
I will enjoy seeing google loose market share :>
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cmon
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Google's IE7 Browser Complaint
Find more providers...
The issue is a search box built into the new ie7 browser, which enables users to search without opening a search engine directly in the browser. The function is already available as a plug-in for existing browsers. For instance, the Google toolbar will modify Firefox browsers to enable Google to be accessed in a single click.Ability to change the search providers default setting could create another wars, with ie7 search providers working on partnerships with the Dells and HPs to convince them to ship machines with the search box set to their site. IE7 users can easily add or remove providers from http://ieproviders.com/ or http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/searchguide/default_new.mspx.
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Whatever
People are so intense about the dumbest stuff sometmes!!!
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dddk
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Use Logic, not quick Emotion
There is no logic whatsoever in that statement. Who will MS pay for the placement in IE? Of course, the proprietor of IE: Microsoft. The idea of Microsoft paying Microsoft is as ridiculous as you owing yourself money.
And to the person who said MS is trying to dip its fingers in everything technological? What about computer hardware hardware? Google is holding a double standard and doing the same: building a monopoly. I know that because I use Google's search engine blindly because it is Firefox's default, not because it is a superior product. Yahoo! and Windows Live Search are just as good as Google.
Those who bash Microsoft for everything it does without looking at logic need to wake up. It's just like those conservatives who believe in the freedom to give what you want to whoever you want but then hypocritically yell (although, they are entitled to) at Bill Gates for relying on affirmative action (no, I don't support affirmative action, but Gates should be allowed any form of discrimination he wants in giving to whoever he wants) to give away money in his charities (yes a bit off-topic, but an clear example of hypocrisy).
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slugging
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google
hs
http://www.domaincile.com
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easy fight
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