Microsoft doesn't seem to be too interested in battling Google in Europe as the, as the lobby group it backs, ICOMP, appears to be on the verge of collapsing.

It is said that ICOMP's members have been silent, so there is no point is carrying on, which is why the search giant could be moving to defect before things get ugly. We understand that Foundem, a UK-based price comparison company, resigned from the group after Microsoft stepped away.

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For those who are unaware, ICOMP was founded back in 2008 to fight Google's strong competitiveness in Europe. Several companies with online businesses joined the group in hopes to cut the search giant down a bit. However, nothing much has come from their efforts.

The whole thing was just a terrible weekend for Google, but much of anything else.

According to a source who spoke with ArsTechnica, Microsoft had agreed to help ICOMP with food, accommodation and travelling expenses without having a strong evolvement with the group's activities.

It also appears as if ICOMP is not what it once was in the early days, which is why Foundem decided to leave.

"As a leading complainant in the European Commission's ongoing competition investigation into Google's search manipulation practices, Foundem cannot be a member of an organization that has turned its back on such an important issue," reads a statement from Foundem.

With Foundem moving on and Microsoft backing away, it is evident that ICOMP might not be around for too long. Going after Google is not cheap, especially when nothing much of significance has been earned since it all began.

Should Microsoft remove itself from this group, it will only mean good things for the company seeing as its prospects are improving and it wouldn't want to anger the Internet anymore.

Despite the software giant refusing to no longer attack Google, whatever that is on the cards right now, ICOMP will continue to work on them. However, without Microsoft's big backing, we have to wonder how long this group will be able to sustain itself until it runs out of resources.

We hope Google and Microsoft can mend their relationship because consumers will definitely benefit in more ways than one.