Microsoft Upset That FCC Stopped Google Probe

The Federal Trade Commission announced this week that it has concluded its probe into anti-competitive actions by Google and Microsoft executives are not happy with the FCC’s decision.

A blog post by Microsoft Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Dave Heiner says the FCC’s decision is “troubling” and “unusual” and that the agency erred when it did not force Google to submit to a document that would have enforced consequences on the search giant if it reverted to its old ways.

In his post Heiner writes:

“We are puzzled and concerned that the FTC did not follow its standard practice in exercising due diligence by obtaining feedback from the industry on the specific terms of Google’s promise before accepting it as a suitable resolution of this matter.”

Typically when a probe of this caliber is launched FTC officials ask industry experts to chime in on the affects of a company’s actions. By receiving business expertise from other company’s in the industry the FTC is then able to create a baseline for best practices.

Heiner further laments:

“Google promised the standards community that it would make its standard essential patents available to all firms on fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms. But then Google sought exorbitant royalties from firms implementing industry standards — rates as high as a thousand times those charged by others with larger patent portfolios reading on the same standards.”

Microsoft’s complaint comes one day after the the company blamed Google for not providing the support Microsoft needs to create a better YouTube app for Windows Phone based devices.

Google for its part has ignored Microsoft’s whining, choosing instead to focus on its own products while working with Apple and Google Android platforms in place of Windows Phone options.

Do you think the FTC failed to properly punish Google for its anti-competitive market measures?

[Image via Politico]