French company sues Google for unfair competition

• Source: Xinhua
• [08:35 July 30 2009]
• Comments

French company Bottin Cartographes sued Google Maps for unfair competition, a judicial official said Wednesday.

Bottin Cartographes complained Google France and its parent company Google Inc. offer free web mapping services, demanding 500,000 euros (some 706,000 US dollars) in damages.

The French company, which is based in Suresnes outside Paris, charges fees for providing multimedia mapping services. It accused Google of attempting to swallow the market by undercutting competitors.

"Google is ruining the market," said Jean-David Scemama, representing Bottin Cartographes.

"Their strategy is to capture the market and squeeze out the competition by creating a monopoly for itself," he added.

Paris commercial court has taken the case. Hearings are set to begin on Oct. 16, local media reported.