Comments on: Google argues antitrust while Yelp spills on search-skip ultimatum

By: Syed Khaled Hussaini

Syed Khaled Hussaini — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:17:00 +0000

Its easy to say that… but when a company size of Google can make or
break small business in an instant, it becomes a much more complex
issue than a “don’ like, don’t use” option. Google is using content of
other websites for their own benefit without license/permission from
them. Remember.. Google is a clear monopoly and even Schmidt sort of admits it
now. They do allow you to deindex your website if you don’t want them to
use your content the way they want, but that would also mean you
blocking yourself away from 75% of your potential customers. A company of this size and nature should be more responsible than that.
Internet is fairly new and unfortunately it will be years or may be
even decades before companies like Yelp and other businesses and
millions of Adsense publishers are rightly protected from this “don’t
like, don’t use” attitude, and then Google will be as soft as Microsoft now, but may be it won’t exist or it will be acquired by Bing or Blekko(:-) by then. Who knows.

By: Syed Khaled Hussaini

Syed Khaled Hussaini — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:17:00 +0000

By: Bruce R. Miller

Bruce R. Miller — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 06:18:00 +0000

I work at Google. Believe me, there is no master plan for world domination. The company is run by engineers, and they want to build cool stuff and make the world a better place. And that’s why they’ve been so successful.

Sure, they want to make money. That way they can do more stuff. But you are just paranoid if you think this is all some sort of huge plot to enslave humanity.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:24:00 +0000

It is simple.
If you don’t like Google, don’t use Google.
Why make this harder than it has to be?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:22:00 +0000

This is like comparing apples and oranges

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:19:00 +0000

Is someone paranoid?

By: First Name

First Name — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:55:00 +0000

Let’s make one thing clear: Google Search does not advertise websites. If they did, Google would be liable for the garbage you get when you search for “Rick Santorum” and there would be lawsuits against them by the Rick Santorum for President campaign over defamation, favoritism, or both.

Google makes their money by connecting internet users to websites that pay Google to advertise on AdSense and AdWords. They attract internet users by making Google Search as accurate as possible, which is why it is reliable even when you aren’t searching for things to buy.

Hence, Google Search attracts their users, and Google AdSense/AdWords makes their money. There is a difference between the two facets of Google, with Google (the company) being the owner of both.

Yelp, like Google, makes their money by connecting users to restaurants and stores, and attracts users by maintaining a database of accurate user-generated review data for those very same restaurants and stores. However, Yelp relies on Google Search to get new users.

Because Yelp owns that valuable user-generated review data that Google wanted to use in Google Maps, Google and Yelp set up an agreement to compensate Yelp for the use of their data as well as the loss of new users; more users would go to Google Maps to find reviews rather than Yelp via Google Search.

This was fine until Google wanted to sweeten the deal. They cancelled that agreement, spun out a new segment called Google Places, and continued to use Yelp’s data anyway without their permission. Yelp complained about it and Google responded with a threat to use Google Search to exclude Yelp from search results if Yelp insists that they cannot use their user-generated data within Google Places.

This is unfair strictly because it is a targeted, malicious block of Yelp from Google Search. Other websites do not have to worry about this, nor do they have to pay Google for the right to be listed in Google Search. The only reason Yelp does is because Google Places, a competing service to Yelp, wants access to their data and Google the company has the power to strong-arm them with Google Search.

Yelp does not compete with Google Search or Google AdWords/AdSense. Yelp is in competition with Google Places, but they cannot compete with them because of Google’s monopoly status with Google Search. Do you see now? This situation is exactly why we have anti-trust laws: to prevent companies with a monopoly from unfairly competing in unrelated markets.

By: Avatar Odin

Avatar Odin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:37:00 +0000

google’s search is free, it’s also free advertising for yelp’s content. yet yelp demands to be paid for google to advertise their site?

By: Avatar Odin

Avatar Odin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:37:00 +0000

google’s search is free, it’s also free advertising for yelp’s content. yet yelp demands to be paid for google to advertise their site?

By: First Name

First Name — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:16:00 +0000

And in your mind would it be okay if a fleet of cabbies in a large city refused to take tourists anywhere near a particular high class restaurant unless they collectively got a free lunch there every day? And if there was a list of restaurants they did this to?

And if that fleet had four times as many cabs as their next largest rival? Is that wrong to you yet?

Tell me do you know the definition of the word “extortion”?

By: First Name

First Name — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:16:00 +0000

And if that fleet had four times as many cabs as their next largest rival? Is that wrong to you yet?

Tell me do you know the definition of the word “extortion”?

By: Danny Ward

Danny Ward — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:09:00 +0000

I think the real problem though is that Google is not providing free service because they are so giving and nice…. they are giving things away for free UNTIL they can control everything. Then you will see the charges. Currently they give away free email accounts as a means to sell ad space. Ever noticed that Google scans your private emails for matching content and then displays relevant ads as you are reading or writing? Google voice, Google reviews, Google, Google, Google. This company is getting too big, too fast and it is quite clear that they are on a hell bent path to world domination as they are rapidly expanding into many markets that from the outside appear to be totally outside of their realm of expertise. But the do have a master plan, and that’s the part that I don’t like because you watch, they will get us trapped and then we will be screwed.

By: Danny Ward

Danny Ward — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:09:00 +0000

By: Arman

Arman — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:01:00 +0000

I totally agree with Dectra all u guys take google for granted just think about the free services they provide for u and then call them criminal u guys deserve Microsoft and apple where they charge u for the smallest services they provide and if u hate google so much please use others option like the mighty Bing u think they are better than google then go head mate and stop fucking complaining

By: Arman

Arman — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:01:00 +0000

By: Z78

Z78 — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:43:00 +0000

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL… again again …

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOl, now fade f.g.

By: Z78

Z78 — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:43:00 +0000

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL… again again …

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOl, now fade f.g.

By: dectra

dectra — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:36:00 +0000

Andy,

That is one of the most stunningly stupid comments I’ve seen on the web. Google hasn’t committed a criminal act, or been convicted, except in your tiny little mind.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:28:00 +0000

If Google did in fact tell Yelp that their content would be used unless they wanted to not show up in search results, the Department of Justice needs to shut Google down, put its officers and directors in prison, and take away all their money.

That’s just breathtakingly criminal.