4 ms·

Wouldn’t it be really good for google if the DOJ banned paying for default placement? I mean it seems like an untenable result to say that anyone but google can

Wouldn’t it be really good for google if the DOJ banned paying for default placement? I mean it seems like an untenable result to say that anyone but google can pay for default placement. So if paying for default is not okay, then that just saves google a lot of money (since google knows most people will pick them if presented a slate of options).

matt_attack 4y ago
If they knew most people would pick them, then why are they paying?
- eloisant 4y ago
  To prevent their competitors for making deals to be the default.
  - asdfasgasdgasdg 4y ago
    Bingo. Google is less paying for default placement and more paying so that they aren’t locked out by default.
- bigyikes 4y ago
  Most people would pick Google if there was no default option. Most people don’t change the default option though. If Google didn’t (or couldn’t by law) pay such large sums, someone else (e.g. Bing) would pay a bit less and become the default. Even though most people prefer Google over Bing, there is still a significant incumbent advantage for being the default option.
  - scarface74 4y ago
    And because little old Microsoft couldn’t afford to pay Apple to be the default search engine?
    - selectodude 4y ago
      Well, no. They did pay to become the default and I guess it was a big enough hit to Google that Google opened the pocketbook. https://appleinsider.com/articles/17/09/25/apple-switches-from-bing-to-google-as-default-search-platform-in-siri-ios-search-and-macs-spotlight https://appleinsider.com/articles/17/09/25/apple-switches-fr...
- utopcell 4y ago
  Because Apple is extorting them.
freediver 4y ago
What would a fair default option be?
- tgsovlerkhgsel 4y ago
  Either letting the user choose, or the developers setting a default (ideally with the interests of their users in mind). Of course, the latter is subject to interpretation, and a privacy-focused application might make a different choice than standard consumer products.
- pessimizer 4y ago
  Any choice made that doesn't involve a kickback.
dredmorbius 4y ago
There's a difference in exclusive dealing by a market leader and by a new entrant. Of course, if and as a new entrant garners increased share, rules should change to reflect that. The problem is that market dominance tends to be a positive feedback loop, for reasons not associated with actual product superiority. Ultimately it quashes choice, competition, new innovation, and the like. Current US antitrust legal theory mostly ignores this based on the Bork / Posner / Director (all Chicago School) tradition. See Cory Doctorow's new book Chokepoint Capitalism for a revised take: <https://doctorow.medium.com/what-is-chokepoint-capitalism-b885c4cb2719 https://doctorow.medium.com/what-is-chokepoint-capitalism-b8...>

matt_attack 4y ago

If they knew most people would pick them, then why are they paying?

eloisant 4y ago
To prevent their competitors for making deals to be the default.
- asdfasgasdgasdg 4y ago
  Bingo. Google is less paying for default placement and more paying so that they aren’t locked out by default.
bigyikes 4y ago
Most people would pick Google if there was no default option. Most people don’t change the default option though. If Google didn’t (or couldn’t by law) pay such large sums, someone else (e.g. Bing) would pay a bit less and become the default. Even though most people prefer Google over Bing, there is still a significant incumbent advantage for being the default option.
- scarface74 4y ago
  And because little old Microsoft couldn’t afford to pay Apple to be the default search engine?
  - selectodude 4y ago
    Well, no. They did pay to become the default and I guess it was a big enough hit to Google that Google opened the pocketbook. https://appleinsider.com/articles/17/09/25/apple-switches-from-bing-to-google-as-default-search-platform-in-siri-ios-search-and-macs-spotlight https://appleinsider.com/articles/17/09/25/apple-switches-fr...
utopcell 4y ago
Because Apple is extorting them.

freediver 4y ago

What would a fair default option be?

tgsovlerkhgsel 4y ago
Either letting the user choose, or the developers setting a default (ideally with the interests of their users in mind). Of course, the latter is subject to interpretation, and a privacy-focused application might make a different choice than standard consumer products.
pessimizer 4y ago
Any choice made that doesn't involve a kickback.

dredmorbius 4y ago

There's a difference in exclusive dealing by a market leader and by a new entrant. Of course, if and as a new entrant garners increased share, rules should change to reflect that. The problem is that market dominance tends to be a positive feedback loop, for reasons not associated with actual product superiority. Ultimately it quashes choice, competition, new innovation, and the like. Current US antitrust legal theory mostly ignores this based on the Bork / Posner / Director (all Chicago School) tradition. See Cory Doctorow's new book Chokepoint Capitalism for a revised take: <https://doctorow.medium.com/what-is-chokepoint-capitalism-b885c4cb2719 https://doctorow.medium.com/what-is-chokepoint-capitalism-b8...>