Google Antitrust Complaint and Other Legal News

A complaint to the European Union against Google’s business practices and arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court stemming out of the i4i patent dispute continue to shape the legal environment affecting Microsoft and its products. In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice and the German Federal Cartel Office have impaired Microsoft’s and partners’ acquisition of Novell’s patents. Legislation targeting software piracy could have considerable impact on firms selling products in some U.S. states, even if the products do not incorporate software.

Microsoft Joins European Complaint Against Google

Several companies, including Microsoft, have filed complaints against Google with the European Union (EU), claiming Google is impeding competition. The main complaint involves Google’s YouTube video site, which Google acquired in 2006.

Microsoft says Google is restricting competing search engines’ ability to properly access YouTube. In particular, other search engines, such as Bing, are not on an equal footing with Google’s own search. The access to YouTube videos and metadata extends beyond search to Microsoft’s Windows Phones. Microsoft says it has a high-quality Windows Phone YouTube application which it wants to release, but Google will not grant permission to access YouTube in the way that Google’s Android phones already do.