Google (GOOG) Rejects EU Antitrust Claims; Calls Amazon, Ebay Proof Of 'Robustly Competitive' Market

In a 150-page response, Google refuted the European Union's claims that it has violated antitrust laws by abusing its dominance over the search market, claiming the EU erred in its analysis of the online shopping market.

Google's response, filed Thursday with the European Commission, is the latest chapter in a five-year saga of the EU probing the tech giant's practices. In April, the EU formally accused the Mountain View, Calif.-based tech company with violating antitrust laws, and since then, numerous entities, including organizations in Europe and American companies like Microsoft and Yelp, have filed complaints in the case against Google.

"Economic data spanning more than a decade, an array of documents, and statements from complainants all confirm that product search is robustly competitive," said Kent Walker, Google senior vice president and general counsel, in a blog post. The European Commission's "preliminary conclusions are wrong as a matter of fact, law, and economics."

Google pointed to the success of rivals eBay and Amazon as examples that the tech space remains competitive. The company did not address the fact that in Europe it holds 90 percent market share when it comes to search, which is well above the 65 percent share it holds in the U.S.

The European Commission is expected to field responses from the likes of Yelp, Microsoft and others before making a final ruling on the case. At the earliest, a decision would come later this year.

The commission has power to fine Google up to $6.7 billion, which would be well above the highest fine the EU has ever doled out in an antitrust case. That distinction goes to Intel, which was fined $1.2 billion in 2009 for abusing it dominance of the computer chip market.