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ARTICLE · 23 DECEMBER 2010

French Competition Authority Issues Opinion on the Online Advertising Sector

SJ Berwin LLP
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On 14 December 2010, following a request by the French Minister for Economy Finance and Employment to investigate the online advertising sector, the French Competition Authority (the 'Authority') issued an opinion stating that it considers Google holds a dominant position on the online advertising market linked to search engines.

FranceAntitrust/Competition Law
SJ Berwin'S EU & Competition Team
SJ Berwin'S EU & Competition Team

On 14 December 2010, following a request by the French Minister for Economy Finance and Employment to investigate the online advertising sector, the French Competition Authority (the 'Authority') issued an opinion stating that it considers Google holds a dominant position on the online advertising market linked to search engines.

Given the central position of online search engines, various operators have expressed a number of concerns against Google; some of them alleging that Google undertook unfair or illegal practices. These allegations include:

  • competing search engines alleging that Google's power results from its attempts to close off markets;
  • advertisers or Internet site editors complaining about Google's arbitrary and opaque practices; and

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