Google did 'abuse' its dominance in online search advertising
According to investigators for India’s competition authority Google 'abused' its dominant position in online search advertising to give preferential treatment for its own services in search results.
Indian authorities have been investigating the search giant since 2012 into four complaints, focusing in particular on AdWords, its online advertisement service.
A 714 word preliminary report, seen by the Financial Times, said: "Google steers users to its own products and services, and produces biased results," it said. "This also adversely affects the competitive landscape."
Source:
Netflix to drop thousands of movies in 'gamble'
The entertainment streaming service has decided not to renew its contract with supplier Epix in a move that will mean it will strip 'thousands' of films - including the Hunger Games and Transformers from its catalogue.
Netflix, which has 60m subscribers, said it wanted to focus on exclusive content instead though the move has been described as a "gamble". US rival Hulu will instead take on the contract.
Analysts said the move was indicative of Netflix positioning itself as premium service. The contract will run until the end of this month.
Source:
Contactless increases payment limit
From today, the purchase limit on contactless payment cards rises from £20 to £30. The move comes as their popularity has soared this year.
However, customers may have to wait weeks to be able to use the upper limit as software in hundreds of thousands of card terminals needs to be updated, the UK Cards Association has said.
Contactless spending rose from £287 million in January 2015, to £567 million by June.
Source:
In case you missed it...two longer reads
Amazon's poor treatment of its workers shouldn't come as much of a surprise, when it's our frenetic consumerism that drives it, says chief creative officer at DigitasLBi, Chris Clarke.
Brands and agencies have lost their influence on popular culture, says Nils Leonard. Focusing on creativity and ambition can reverse that trend.
Watch Sam Bompas explain Bompas & Parr's "alcoholic architecture", a vaporous cloud of booze in Borough Market.
.jpg)
.jpeg)
