Yelp takes legal action against Google, sparking concerns of heightened antitrust confrontations

At the crux of the matter

Industry experts highlight that the primary issue stems from the conflicting business models, given that both Google and Yelp rely on advertising income.

Moreover, there is a notable apprehension regarding the redirection of user visits to Niche Specialized Providers (NSPs) such as Yelp, Zillow, OpenTable, and Glassdoor.

“The exploration phase stands as the central area of contention, since Google possesses the capability to manage and steer the bulk of search traffic, whether towards promoted listings, its proprietary platforms, or these NSPs, since most consumer searches for a Point of Interest (POI) commence on Google,” remarked Neil Shah, managing partner and co-creator at Counterpoint Research. “For NSPs like Yelp, the anticipation is that Google will present findings equitably rather than channeling traffic towards its favored destinations, which could negatively affect their operations. Yelp and other NSPs are advocating for transparency and impartiality in this procedure.”

About Author

AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

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