Leveraging Market Power Through Tying and Bundling: Does Google Behave Anti-Competitively?

Posted by Social Science Research Network

Leveraging Market Power Through Tying and Bundling: Does Google Behave Anti-Competitively? – Benjamin G. Edelman (Harvard University – HBS Negotiations, Organizations and Markets Unit)

ABSTRACT: I examine Google’s pattern and practice of tying and bundling to leverage its dominance into new sectors under antitrust law principles. In particular, I show how Google used these tactics to enter numerous markets, to compel usage of its services, and often to dominate competing offerings. I explore the technical and commercial implementations of these practices, and I identify their effects on competition. I conclude that Google’s tying and bundling tactics are suspect under antitrust law.