Google to allow rival firms to display logos on search display results page, says European Commission chief

The European Commission's top competition official said Google would allow rival firms to display their own logos on its search display results page as part of concessions it has offered to avoid a showdown with regulators.

Joachim Almunia told the European Parliament that Google's concessions will be tested to see how they would work in the market. Only then will the Commission decide whether to accept them.

He repeated that he would prefer a negotiated settlement, rather than the long battle fought with Microsoft in the 2000s, which ended in billions of euros of fines.

Mr Almunia said consumers deserve to have choice in online search and advertising "now, and not after many years of litigation".

The Commission began investigating whether Google's dominant position in search is stifling competition in 2010.

AP