Google's Anti-Competitive and Unfair Practices in Digital Leisure Markets
The purpose of this article is to reflect on the critical use of commitments in the Google case and to analyse and review the matrix of facts that have been highlighted in the academic and practitioner literature. Therefore, the core area of reflection in this contribution are relevant markets; barriers to entry; network and lock-in effects; dominance; and potential anti-competitive, as well as unfair practices as regards commercial advertisements. The analysis of the online search-engine market is complemented by the comparative insights offered by the US class action against Google’s Android mobile applications. In the EU, a similar trend is noticeable in the complaining tone of Google’s competitors. Coupled with the transitional period of the mandate of the newly appointed Commissioner for Competition and the political sensitivity over the potential to misuse search-engine users’ personal data to serve commercial purposes, such as boosting its advertising revenues, the giant Google swims in uncertain waters.
The Rise of Big Data and the Loss of Privacy
This chapter offers a classification of personal data based on the study of privacy policies of Google, Microsoft Windows, Facebook, Instagram, Linked-In, and Whisper. It argues that online price discrimination contributes to higher corporate profits and economic inequality. Competition policy intervention is therefore needed to curb this inequality that generates a false impression that a few digital giants are competing on the merit of their ‘highly innovative’ data-driven products and performance. The chapter argues that knowing a consumer’s usage, frequency, preferences, and choices disempowers online consumers.
Research requirements to reduce maintenance costs of civil helicopters
The maintenance problems faced by the operators of civil helicopters that result in high costs are documented. Existing technology that can be applied to reduce maintenance costs and research that should be carried out were identified. Good design practice and application of existing technology were described as having a significant impact on reducing maintenance costs immediately. The research and development that have potential for long range reduction of maintenance costs are presented.