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Comment by Isinlor

5 years ago

In this case they do not provide a service to the OP. There is no agreement between OP and Google.

This is happening on browsers of their customers. And I'm quite sure that if Google hits a company that competes with Google services there must be a law that they will be breaking.

There was a big case in Poland where Google blocked a SaaS web shop provider using the same exact mechanism [0]. Polish courts decided that Google claims displayed on block page were untrue. Unfortunately, the suing company did not receive compensation, because Google Poland does not operate Chrome browser. The court indicated that the right party to sue is Google incorporated in USA...

[0] https://www.silesiasem.pl/iai-przegralo-proces-sadowy-z-goog...

5 comments

Isinlor

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asien  5 years ago

Aside from abusive dominent position there is no law they would break.

When you download and use chrome you ACCEPT the Terms and Conditions of Google.

There is no law that prevents a web browser from blocking access to a website or modifying the page . If the TOS stipulate « pages may differ from the original or be subject to third party software » , they are in within their rights and the customer accepted it when he started using the product.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m on OP sides and everything , but we have let big tech become too big by giving us free stuff for decades.

Now they they decide what’s good for us or not with side effects that often damage small business.

But I insist that in 99% , they operate within the law.

  • Isinlor  5 years ago

    I'm not a US citizen, but just 5 min of scanning US laws makes me think that there are basis for a lawsuit.

    Essential facilities doctrine seems to be appropriate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_facilities_doctrine

    • echopom  5 years ago

      Google has already been condemned by UE for this type of issue for 150M. That's literally nothing , at least not enough to hit their wallet.

      This type of battle take months if not years in court and cost millions of dollars.

      Google products can be shipped and removed in a few weeks , far beyond the reach of operation of the current judiciary system.

      Today the problem is GHS , tomorrow it'll be "GSuite Safe Account" or "Youtube Safe Video" etc...

      There is no point in taking Google to court just for a "one time" condemnation, it's a systematic issue that is tied to Google itself.

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