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with the European Commission claiming Google systematically thwarts Internet search competition.
It is the first time Microsoft – itself the target of anticompetition action in the United States and Europe – has filed a complaint with regulators over competition issues.
In its complaint, Microsoft claims Google engages in a “pattern of actions” that impede competition unfairly.
Google controls more than 90 percent of the Internet search advertising market in Europe, well ahead of Microsoft’s rival Bing, which is struggling to make inroads into Google’s market share.
Google is already under investigation by the European Commission after complaints from three small firms, one of them owned by Microsoft. .
Google did not seek to counter Microsoft’s claims publicly, but indicated it was not overly concerned by the complaint.
“We’re not surprised that Microsoft has done this, since one of their subsidiaries was one of the original complainants,” A Google representative said in an-mailed statement.
“For our part, we continue to discuss the case with the European Commission and we’re happy to explain to anyone how our business works.”
Microsoft said it felt it was time to challenge Google on legal grounds directly. Last year the company publicly encouraged companies to question Google’s practices. – Reuters.