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What If The Government Broke Up Google?
searchengineland.com — Imagine in the future that an anti-trust action forces Google to breakup. Here's a look at the "Baby Googles" that might emerge....
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- drewrussell2011, on 01/01/2008, -3/+19"Search Engine Reform Act of 2009 (SERA)"
After the RIAA breaks up, this is probably where they are headed. - stillanovice, on 01/01/2008, -17/+7One thing my mother always told me was that the only true monopoly is a government controlled one. In a true free market system the best idea wins and everyone else needs to catch up. If google was sabotaging other companies or stealing their idea's then they would need to be dealt with, but being cut down because they are successful is just dumb. what is stopping us from using any other browser or anything else that google has a service for? this is just another example of the government trying to "protect" us.
- Strawgate, on 01/01/2008, -3/+6The problem with monopolies is they can take loses in certain areas to gain market share, and their large cash base can let them do that for years, while startups cant do that because of their lack of a cash base.
- ZenMojo, on 01/01/2008, -2/+7See: Microsoft.
- Firehed, on 01/01/2008, -5/+1But they'll often outright buy competition if they have a good idea. So long as they turn around and implement that idea, you're still getting innovation.
The problem isn't really money when it comes to technology (especially web technologies) but rather market share. While designing a search algorithm that kicks Google's ass is possible and would slowly but surely eat away at their search market share (consider: Firefox), you really have no way of going up against their advertising tools unless you have a marketing genius and a hell of a competitive advantage.- smacksaw, on 01/01/2008, -0/+8Yeah, LOL...not really.
1st, the innovator doesn't get rich and grow to compete. 2nd, see: US Auto Industry and gasoline companies. How many technologies have they purchased to repress?
All of talk about a free market - a free market isn't unregulated chaos, a free market is freedom. You don't have a free market if people with power are lessening freedom. A free market is when you and I open up competing fruit stands and compete on price. A free market is not when Monsanto licences the seeds to us at a set price and then buys the farm next door and captures all of the pollenating insects. Crap like that. I think a lot of people miss the "spirit" of competition in a free market. The idea is to play fair and win, not win at all costs and cheat and manipulate to do so.
- smacksaw, on 01/01/2008, -0/+8Yeah, LOL...not really.
- Julz, on 01/01/2008, -1/+3wow your mum's smart, the only thing my mum told me was to eat my greens....
- Bamborzled, on 01/01/2008, -2/+4Maybe you missed the part that it was hypothetical.
- jmkiii, on 01/01/2008, -3/+5Are you the offspring of Ma Bell? Did you get the ill communication as well?
- veilrap, on 01/01/2008, -1/+5The phone companies are a perfect example of ***** government protected monopolies.
- obxjdt, on 01/01/2008, -1/+5"One thing my mother always told me was that the only true monopoly is a government controlled one"
She was right! Try competing with the U.S. Postal service. Sure, you can compete as a parcel service, but not as just a letter currier. Don't believe me? Just try and start the "Pony Express 2" and see how fast you get shut down. That's just one example, I could go on and on about this....Public school is another one......
Your Mother sounds like a smart woman! - GreyICE, on 01/01/2008, -0/+3Monopolies, even natural monopolies, are still bad. Monopolies produce to maximize profit, rather than to fit the supply/demand curve. That means their products tend to be expensive and less available than they otherwise would be (see: Microsoft).
- Strawgate, on 01/01/2008, -3/+6The problem with monopolies is they can take loses in certain areas to gain market share, and their large cash base can let them do that for years, while startups cant do that because of their lack of a cash base.
- DoodleMaster, on 01/01/2008, -5/+4Google is like a hydra Cut one head off two grow back in it's place. I'm a guess the same thing would happen if google was split up...metaphorically speaking of course.
- cap11235, on 01/01/2008, -5/+1What are you talking about? When has Google had "a head cut off"?
- thrilladdict, on 01/01/2008, -8/+72Government touches google = we revolt... this is sacred ground people!
- ZenMojo, on 01/01/2008, -13/+5I was on Ask.com the other day, and you know, Google sucks. It really does. It's actively controlling my access to information every day. I type in key words on Google and I get nowhere near as much relevant information. Often information I had on one day disappears altogether on another. And it's totally within their rights to do this.
Now imagine net neutrality disappearing, your being forced to access Google NO MATTER WHAT and only being able to view an image of the internet they create for you. Scary.- freedomknight, on 01/01/2008, -7/+3WOW, I hope you are not typing this from your Redmond headquarters, I if you don't like changing google results then don't use them. If you are afraid of your privacy then don't use them. But what your are ASSUMING is wrong, web is about OPEN ACCESS & OPEN COMPITATION & OPEN STANDARDS. If some thing has to be broken up first thing should be MICROSOFT, Yeah, ***** Microsoft. Got it ???
- smacksaw, on 01/01/2008, -0/+2Dude you got it all wrong. He's a shill for InterActive.
"I was on Ask.com the other day looking for great bargains from HSN. I had just updated my Zwinky and was looking at CitySearch to find the concert hall where I would redeem the tickets I got for a great value from Ticketmaster. I met my date from Match.com and commented on her shirt from Busted Tees and she told me how much she liked my video from College Humor.com."
Shill.
- smacksaw, on 01/01/2008, -0/+2Dude you got it all wrong. He's a shill for InterActive.
- freedomknight, on 01/01/2008, -7/+3WOW, I hope you are not typing this from your Redmond headquarters, I if you don't like changing google results then don't use them. If you are afraid of your privacy then don't use them. But what your are ASSUMING is wrong, web is about OPEN ACCESS & OPEN COMPITATION & OPEN STANDARDS. If some thing has to be broken up first thing should be MICROSOFT, Yeah, ***** Microsoft. Got it ???
- Firehed, on 01/01/2008, -0/+19Yeah right. Geeks revolt and get arrested with terrorism charges. Everyone else is too lazy because, wait -- *****! American Idol is on! BRB!
- LightSpeed4, on 01/01/2008, -6/+1google fanboys? wow some people need a life
- ZenMojo, on 01/01/2008, -13/+5I was on Ask.com the other day, and you know, Google sucks. It really does. It's actively controlling my access to information every day. I type in key words on Google and I get nowhere near as much relevant information. Often information I had on one day disappears altogether on another. And it's totally within their rights to do this.
- adml_shake, on 01/01/2008, -1/+13They'd let them reform a little ways down the road. Just like AT&T.
- Betrayer, on 01/01/2008, -1/+140What if GOOGLE broke up the GOVERNMENT, would be a more interesting story
- veilrap, on 01/01/2008, -0/+17Dugg the article for your comment.
- BeavisMcSleavis, on 01/01/2008, -4/+2Awesome!
That's what I've been thinking and hoping for years! - diagonalfish, on 01/01/2008, -1/+4In Soviet America, Google breaks up YOUR GOVERNMENT...?
Sorry, doesn't work. :( - catalysis, on 01/01/2008, -2/+3I would rather the US not be ruled by a corporation, regardless of how benevolent you may believe they are.
- Betrayer, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1they wouldnt have to Rule the government to break them up.
all they would have to do is EXPOSE THE TRUTH.
Revolution is almost 1 click away!
- Betrayer, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1they wouldnt have to Rule the government to break them up.
- Llanowar, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1In the future Google will BE the government.
- Azselendor, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1That would only be true if google became utterly incomprehensible to our minds in its processes and functions leaving us unable to navigate the bureaucracy that is google government.
O.O crap.
- Azselendor, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1That would only be true if google became utterly incomprehensible to our minds in its processes and functions leaving us unable to navigate the bureaucracy that is google government.
- Chris4, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1Microsoft has a better chance of that, unfortunately.
- whyufail, on 01/01/2008, -3/+19If they touch google they better damn well get off their ass and stop extending anti-trust proceedings against microsoft for years.
- merreborn, on 01/01/2008, -10/+3Having the best product on the market does not a monopoly make. You get broken up for taking advantage of your dominant market position to unfairly keep others out.
The government breaks monopolies up due to anti-competitive practices. If you keep your nose clean, they'll leave you alone.- Twisty, on 01/01/2008, -0/+5Yoda?!?
- Rtsight, on 01/01/2008, -1/+6too much trust on the government? that ideal world doesn't exist. it's similar to saying, "if you don't 'steal' you won't get sued by the RIAA" erhhh..yike...
- zbeast, on 01/01/2008, -9/+11Why do people want to hassle Google... You don't pay for Google's services you get them for free!
Oh, no, goggles too big.. I feel oppressed because I'm getting high quality products for free, they should be ashamed of themselves. The only people who are getting harmed by google is spammers and spy-ware developers.
Oh please Google don't force me to use your free services... your destroying my freedom of choice.- edgedmurasame, on 01/01/2008, -1/+4Google's practices related to China, their own certain hostility to investors, and the general practice of arrogance inherited from Stanford University in their course of business do factor in there.
- KleenixPhoenix, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1Yes, because China has had such ethical practices of their own, just ask Tibet.
- heliox, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1You have to comply with their laws if you want to do business in a certain country. Google could have just said "forget it" and walked away, but those chose to comply.
What's the big deal?- Llanowar, on 01/01/2008, -2/+1The big deal, for many people, is that Google's motto is do no evil. And they view their business in China as evil. As Google complies to the laws there and censors stuff.
It should be viewed in a different way though. Yes Google does censor stuff, and of course they're in it for the cash. Other than that they still try to provide the best service they can to the people in China, which they wouldn't have otherwise.
- Llanowar, on 01/01/2008, -2/+1The big deal, for many people, is that Google's motto is do no evil. And they view their business in China as evil. As Google complies to the laws there and censors stuff.
- oldgal, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1Are the Chinese people better off getting filtered content or no content? My guess is that getting filtered content will foment more positive change than getting no content...but who knows?
- melonhedd, on 01/01/2008, -1/+3Google only has one service, and it is advertising. Advertisers most certainly do pay Google for that service.
- heliox, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1Google has many services. And a few revenue channels. Not just advertising.
- oldgal, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1I always consider advertising a type of tax I pay for product - Google is giving me the tax back in free software and disk space - cool.
- edgedmurasame, on 01/01/2008, -1/+4Google's practices related to China, their own certain hostility to investors, and the general practice of arrogance inherited from Stanford University in their course of business do factor in there.
- reeder, on 01/01/2008, -2/+8No way that Google can get broken up while Standard Oil, I mean ExxonMobil, is left whole.
Happy New Years everyone! - darkecho, on 01/01/2008, -2/+6It would end up being like AT&T .. Split it up into a few companies and then they eventually merge back together.
- Frostman3D, on 01/01/2008, -12/+3The real question is, What if google broke up the government?
- DeFex, on 01/01/2008, -3/+2they would become "mini googles" and wait a few years then reform. and sell iphones
- shankarganesh, on 01/01/2008, -3/+1i can't even imagine this happening :-O
- TheBSG, on 01/01/2008, -3/+25Google is the last company that needs breaking up. If we're talking companies to break up, let's discuss Disney, National Amusements, Time Warner, Viacom, News Corp, Bertelsmann AG, Sony, General Electric, Vivendi SA and Lagardère Group.
- CATSCEO, on 01/01/2008, -3/+10You forgot Microsoft.
- LightSpeed4, on 01/01/2008, -3/+0you needs to look up what a conglomerate is, rofl what a complete moron
- TheBSG, on 01/04/2008, -0/+2A moron doesn't know what an oligopoly is.
- Elranzer, on 01/01/2008, -0/+2Electronic Arts?
- obxjdt, on 01/01/2008, -4/+4There's no anti-trust claim that could be made. Is Google huge? Yeah, but it's free, and their not forcing anyone to use any of their products. Firefox/Seamonkey have add-ons/plug-ins that block Google ads. So as a consumer, you're not forced to see their, or anyone else's ads.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/186 ...- Myztry, on 01/01/2008, -1/+3I use adblock while browsing Digg. Every now and then I whitelist the ads because I appreciate the revenue aspect. But as soon as I see the "10,000th visitor" scam, I reblock the adds. It is stupid of Digg to 1. Allow such ads to appear on their page, and 2. Use an evil provider (msn) that allows those adds into the pool.
- obxjdt, on 01/01/2008, -1/+2Either digg has ads, or you pay for the site. It ain't free. Pay up or shut up....
Kudos to you for clicking on the ads!!!!!!- Myztry, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1It's not having ads that is the issue. It's having ads like "10,000th visitors". They are blatant lies. Obtaining money by deception is the intent, and that's actually illegal in Australia.
- Llanowar, on 01/01/2008, -0/+2I never had issues with Digg's ads. I never cared to block their ads while they were from Google. Not intrusive.
However, when they went over to MS I eventually started blocking them. I don't want ANY flashing ads. Ads should not move, it should be text or a still image, not an annoying gif or flash ad.
They really screwed themselves here.
- obxjdt, on 01/01/2008, -1/+2Either digg has ads, or you pay for the site. It ain't free. Pay up or shut up....
- LightSpeed4, on 01/01/2008, -2/+0adwords isnt free
- Myztry, on 01/01/2008, -1/+3I use adblock while browsing Digg. Every now and then I whitelist the ads because I appreciate the revenue aspect. But as soon as I see the "10,000th visitor" scam, I reblock the adds. It is stupid of Digg to 1. Allow such ads to appear on their page, and 2. Use an evil provider (msn) that allows those adds into the pool.
- Rtsight, on 01/01/2008, -5/+1Don't you dare touch Google? It's personal.
- edgedmurasame, on 01/01/2008, -3/+3It might mean that someone from a State university in the middle of flyover country(e.g. the kind of person who would benefit from this the most) would be able to have a realistic chance at Google. That wouldn't make it any worse, but it'd certainly take the arrogance out of them by putting in voices that weren't of a certain mindset of exclusion.
With their attempt to restrict even stockholders, they deserve a breakup (to the chagrin of some). - exomni, on 01/01/2008, -3/+4I don't think that GOOGLE should be worried about the GOVERNMENT...
...now vice versa... - c0balt279, on 01/01/2008, -3/+0It's called Jealousy.
- stephant, on 01/01/2008, -3/+6If they break up Google after they declined to break up MS I'll be pretty shocked. In fact, at that point, I'll just assume that all government is pure evil.
- Survivor303, on 01/01/2008, -7/+1uhh.. damn U.S views only.. why you guys don't never try to look these things with larger angle.. like international....
- knivesout8, on 01/01/2008, -2/+1scroogle.org
- terroristusgov, on 01/01/2008, -3/+2How about if the United States Government broke up Microsoft first!
Do we really want to be stuck with a proprietary Microsoft Office format?- diavolina, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1the gov at one point actually had to go in and regulate microsoft for fear it was becoming a monopoly...although it happened years ago it has already happened i am sad to say
- smacksaw, on 01/01/2008, -4/+4They can take my Google when they pry the keyboard from my cold, dead hands.
At that point, what gov't is going to break up Google? Google transcends any gov't at this point. It belongs to the world. If the US got out of line, they could just relocate elsewhere. Great job USA. You just killed the SF Bay area and all of those high paying, high-tax tech jobs.
As if I wouldn't just go to Google.ca if they screwed the US Google. This is just silly. - dn11, on 01/01/2008, -1/+2why would the government want to break up google? google is going to be the ultimate data mine for the governments future surveillance of it's own citizens and the rest of the world. the real question - how long before google merges with the government (and will we even know)?
- MasterMirza, on 01/01/2008, -1/+2I thought Google was the government.
- randysouth, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1....because the government has had so much success breaking up companies and keeping them broken apart...
- diavolina, on 01/01/2008, -1/+0google..a crucial aspect of my daily life..they only want to deconstruct it because they fear it is becoming a monopoly..isn't that what our wonderful nation is good at? selling this free nation ***** all about success and making something better but the moment a company shows the slightest bit of extreme success they cut them down..*****..i am suprised wal-mart has lasted this long..heh if they ever shut it down rednecks everywhere would die..
- justjawsem, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1ooooohh baby googles, how cute
- u2wedge, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1someone would yell 'Yahoo!'
- londubh, on 01/01/2008, -2/+1They need to break up Microsoft first. Come to think of it they need to re-break up AT&T again.
- pasher1221, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1Should they leave Verizon/MCI, Time Warner & Comcast together. Oh wait .... aren't they competing with AT&T?
Why do you want to break up AT&T? Is your phone, Internet, cable and wireless too cheep?
- pasher1221, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1Should they leave Verizon/MCI, Time Warner & Comcast together. Oh wait .... aren't they competing with AT&T?
- SLuM, on 01/01/2008, -0/+2I agree with the government if only they break up the oil tycoons as well.
- obxjdt, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1You need to study history! I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around that comment! Ever hear of the Rockefeller's????
Wish I was still in the 7th grade.....Well, maybe not that young, 21-25 would be nice to revisit.... - GeorgeClayton, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1The only problem with that is the biggest ones are in other countries.
- pasher1221, on 01/01/2008, -0/+2Velro, Shell, Exxon, BP are all competing with each other. Why do we need to break them up? DON'T you get it? If the company already has competition then other only thing breaking up a company will do is make it less efficient and drive more cost to their customers.
- obxjdt, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1You need to study history! I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around that comment! Ever hear of the Rockefeller's????
- GeorgeClayton, on 01/01/2008, -1/+2Google is in no way a monopoly, sure they're damn good at what they do & very popular, however there are thousands of competitors, including hundreds of LARGE competitors.. A group of kids in a garage can make a damn search engine, code some advertisment software, or create an email client. There are million of competitors to google, including numerous big competitors. To my knowledge Google doesn't practice anti-competitive acts.
If anything, people need to talk a Microsoft, apple, or intel break up, however to be honest, I'm not sure that would do anyone any good anyway. - irvin666, on 01/01/2008, -2/+1As Stephen Colbert says, Just like AT&T, they will break up and merged back up in the later years, just like the T-1000
- thefinger, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1Google is just about the only government I can take seriously anymore. The rest is monkey babble.
ot:Happy 2008, Diggers. - pasher1221, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1Google has competition: Yahoo, Microsoft and the 50 other search engineers out there. Also Google's biggest competition is innovation. Unlike Exxon and AT&T of yester-year, any old CS major with a few million in capital could replace Google in a year if they had a better product. Funny thing is Yahoo, Microsoft, AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, TimeWarner, News Corp and just about every other media outlet in America all want to enter the same market Google has mastered.... Targeted ad delivery.
- pasher1221, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1Darn spell check... clicked the wrong one.... engines ... not engineers.
- MrViklund, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1LOL. I bet the article was sponsored by Microsoft.
Stop dreaming. Live in the now. - AdamGeld, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1The government has no right to break-up Google. I'm sure they want to from time to time, but the real question is what would WE do if they put Google out of business?
- nycmac247, on 01/01/2008, -1/+2What if Google broke up The Government?
RON PAUL 2008!!!111!!!- captaintaco27, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1OMG GUISE RON PAUL WILL SAVE US ALL !!!!!!
***** libertarians
- captaintaco27, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1OMG GUISE RON PAUL WILL SAVE US ALL !!!!!!
- LokitheComplex, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1Monopolies are dangerous. But the net is different. The virtual world is different.
But Google could disappear over night.
Remember Alta Vista? Remember Nestscape? - andytandreou, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1LEAVE GOOGLE ALONE!!! PLEEEEEEEEEEASE!!! Anyone who breaks up google will deal with ME!
- dannysullivan, on 01/01/2008, -1/+1Wow, buried. Sad. I genuinely enjoyed the comments and reactions from people who said they wouldn't want Google tampered with (and noted several of them as a postscript to the story). Pity more people on Digg won't get to see my speculative piece now and add their thoughts.
- GeorgeClayton, on 01/01/2008, -0/+1And what are your thoughts?
- dualityim, on 01/02/2008, -0/+0This is patent nonsense, of course. Google's advertising division is pretty much their only means of profit (just read their fiscal reports). All other Google services are just ways of delivering ads.
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