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Microsoft levels anti-competition complaint at Google

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

March 31, 2011 | 2 min read

Microsoft has accused Google of restricting competition in an official complaint sent to the European Commission.

Microsoft has taken action because it says Google engages in a 'pattern of actions' that thwart search engine competition.

It is the first time Microsoft has complained to regulators on competition grounds, though it has been the subject of anti-competition action itself.

The irony was not lost on Microsoft. Brad Smith, the tech giant's general counsel, said in a blog post: "Having spent more than a decade wearing the shoe on the other foot with the European commission, the filing of a formal antitrust complaint is not something we take lightly."

Smith then explained why Microsoft had filed the complaint, saying: "'As troubling as the situation is in the United States, it is worse in Europe.

"That is why our filing today focuses on a pattern of actions that Google has taken to entrench its dominance in the markets for online search and search advertising to the detriment of European consumers."

In a statement, Google responded: "We're not surprised that Microsoft has done this, since one of their subsidiaries was one of the original complainants.

"For our part, we continue to discuss the case with the European Commission and we're happy to explain to anyone how our business works."

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