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Texas Attorney General Investigating Google

By Stephanie Robinson

The Texas Attorney General?s Office is investigating whether Google violated antitrust laws with its search rank methods. The inquiry reportedly focuses on whether and to what extent Google manipulates search results to place certain links closer to the top of the results list in order to stifle competition. A good search result ranking often translates into instant commercial success for many businesses while a lower ranking may contribute to a business? failure. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot reportedly has asked Google for information regarding several companies in the online shopping, comparison shopping, and e-commerce space. The companies previously filed regulatory complaints or lawsuits against Google. Google closely guards its search algorithms and indicates it strives to recommend Web sites most likely to satisfy the needs of each user's request. On its Public Policy Blog, Google identified each of the three companies at issue and provided more information about its history with the companies. This may be one of the first broad antitrust reviews of Google?s search and advertising practices in the U.S. The investigation likely will be closely watched by search-engine optimization professionals, because the impact of an adverse finding concerning Google?s business practices could have far-reaching impacts on how businesses use the search engine giant and how they work to improve their search rankings in order to promote products and services.

Full post as published by Business and Technology Law on September 20, 2010 (boomark / email).