There goes your tax money
The EU’s competition watchdog approved 99 million euros (152 million dollars) of French state aid for a consortium to build a European rival to US internet search giant Google.
The “Quaero” search engine project, involving 23 companies led by French technology giant Thomson, has not yet got off the ground due to a lack of funding. Its estimated costs for the first five years are estimated at 199 million euros, half of which France — which has championed the idea — has agreed to fund.
Here’s why Quaero is so important:
Following an “in-depth examination,” the European Commission decided that the Quaero project “brings positive externalities for the community as a whole.”
And here’s what they’re up against:
(Top 5 search engines of January 2008 - Source)
Finally, to put this French effort into perspective: Google spent over 2 billion dollars on R&D in 2007.
Wed 12-Mar-08 | Posted in: Created in France, Oops
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Comments
Comment from Fernandez
Time: March 12, 2008, 8:07 pm
Wasn\’t this on your 2008 prediction list as well?
Just waiting for the Saro-Bruni bebe…
[Not really, but nearly. About the bebe - it\’s on its way! - RS]
Comment from Boz
Time: March 12, 2008, 6:53 pm
At this point their best bet would be to simply fine the heck out of Google like they did with Microsoft. Then Quaero has a revenue source!
[The problem is that Google doesn\’t sell anything, so the EC can\’t sanction the company. Tant mieux - RS]