Report: Google offers to 'brand' search results in Euro antitrust probe

Horse-trading continues down at Choc Factory ranch

Google is continuing to try to convince the European Commission not to proceed in taking formal action against the company's alleged "abuse of dominance" in the search market – by reportedly offering to brand its web search results.

According to the Financial Times, which cites sources familiar with Google's package of concessions submitted to competition officials in Brussels, Mountain View is proposing to add its corporate stamp to products such as maps, airline flight details and other services that appear when netizens use the firm's search function.

The move is unlikely to be greeted with anything but hostility from Google's rivals, however, who have long argued that the company favours its own search products over those of its competitors.

In September, Google was warned by the EC's antitrust chief Joaquin Almunia that it could still be slapped with massive fines if it was found to have violated competition rules in Europe. At the time, the commissioner confirmed he was yet to be satisfied by the apparent concessions proposed by Google. ®