Getty ramps up pressure on Google with image search complaint

Getty Images filed a complaint against Google at the European Commission, accusing the search giant of promoting piracy to solidify its market dominance. The photo service specifically called out Google’s 2013 change to its image search, which allowed users to see high-resolution photos rather than “low res thumbnails” that might encourage users to click through to see a better-quality image. “By creating its own captive, image-rich environment and cutting off user traffic to competing websites — and reserving that traffic exclusively for its own benefit — Google is able to maintain and reinforce its dominance in search,” Getty’s general counsel, Yoko Miyashita, said.

Getty said the 2013 change immediately started diverting traffic away from its own site, which the company said is hurting the livelihood of the 200,000 photographers who use Getty to distribute images. While the complaint was filed with European regulators, Getty said “antitrust authorities around the world should take action.”