[prawn]

It would be a poorly considered algorithm rather than some bidding situation. No sane person would build this intentionally. The big companies have too much to lose especially.

[jessaustin]

Basically, this is Google's entire business: getting paid to send us where someone else wants us to go. Google are "big". Why wouldn't Apple want in on this action?

[Carpetsmoker]

Sponsored search results are marked as such in the Google results, it's nothing like the automagic redirect Safari is showing here.