hi tsanko, I think that they would not sell positions in the SE as they made a sentence in google webmaster help center that No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google. And, now a days google is more popular than others because of they provide the most relevant result to the user's or visitor's query.
Yes, but I think the conflict of interest is really there. And how can we know they are not selling the SE ranks .... on a darker side .....
It's in Google's interest to see how there business is looked at from every angle: visitors, advertisers and promoters.
Just because one company owns another doesn't mean that there's conflict of interest ... if someone was to prove collusion between the two companies, then there would be an obvious conflict. But just because they own the company doesn't mean anything. Though I'd agree that it's very thin ice for google to tread on.
hi discuss4u and kenbrower, You both may be right. But, I think that if Google want to keep its reputation within users then they would not be done such an unethical. As if it would sell SE ranks, then after sometime users can distinguish that these SE ranks are not natural by don't getting relevant results to their query.
If Google continues to own this company, just the fact that they own it implies that a possible conflict exists. Having the potential for access to the algo by itself creates a conversation like this one which in turn makes them look bad even if there is no collusion. Sometimes appearances can be as bad as reality.