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ARTICLE · 26 JULY 2010

French Competition Authority Launches a Market Test following Google's Commitments Concerning its Online Advertising Service AdWords

SJ Berwin LLP
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On 30 June 2010, the French Competition Authority (the "Authority") stated that Google had implemented the content policy of its online advertising service, AdWords, in a way which lacked objectivity and transparency and resulted in discriminatory treatment.

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

On 30 June 2010, the French Competition Authority (the "Authority") stated that Google had implemented the content policy of its online advertising service, AdWords, in a way which lacked objectivity and transparency and resulted in discriminatory treatment (see Community Week issue 478 ).

The Authority said that Google's behaviour was seriously and immediately prejudicial to all advertisers, including Navx, the company that had submitted the complaint, which markets online databases for GPS navigation devices.  The Authority thus ordered the implementation of several interim reliefs.

Further to the Authority's decision Google proposed four commitments, all of which relate to clarifications or changes to the AdWords page concerning devices relating to the detection of speed cameras and radars performing functions relating to speed traps (the "Devices").  On 21 July 2010, the Authority published the commitments and launched a market test.

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