ICOMP

The European Commission today announced that it will launch a formal antitrust investigation following three complaints that were filed against Google by Foundem, ejustice.fr and Ciao, which is owned by the Microsoft search engine, Bing.
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Search is key to almost all commercial activities on the Internet. First, it organises information in a way that allows people to find what they are looking for. Second, it is the way most people access the commercial services they acquire on the Internet. Third, it is inextricably intertwined with search advertising, which funds many online activities. Fourth, it is an activity that delivers huge scale advantages. Fifth, it is susceptible to unannounced and often undetectable manipulation and favouritism. Sixth, it is almost unique in the way it can be bundled with other “free” services, cross-subsidised by those advertising revenues.
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The British Government is casting an eye across the Atlantic to see what legislators can learn from its American counterparts as the Intellectual Property Office undertakes a 6 month review of IP law in the UK.
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Privacy is not an easy issue. The modern economy relies on enormous amounts of data, much of which is personal and sensitive (or at least could be sensitive if pieced together). The use, retention and circulation of that data is one of the most difficult policy and industrial issues of our times. All the more reason, therefore, that companies which do collect and use personal data are open, transparent and accurate about what their practices are.
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