Google Wins Challenge Against €1.49 Billion EU Antitrust Fine
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Google Wins Challenge Against €1.49 Billion EU Antitrust Fine
Loveworld / 54 mins
September 18, 2024
1 min read
Alphabet’s Google successfully challenged a €1.49 billion ($1.66 billion) antitrust fine imposed by the European Union five years ago. This ruling comes just a week after the company lost a larger case regarding its practices in online search advertising.
The European Commission’s 2019 decision accused Google of abusing its dominant position by restricting websites from using brokers other than its AdSense platform for search advertisements. These practices were deemed illegal and took place between 2006 and 2016.
While the Luxembourg-based General Court largely upheld the EU’s assessment of the case, it annulled the fine, stating that the Commission had not adequately considered all relevant circumstances regarding the duration of the unfair contractual clauses.
This fine was part of a broader series of penalties that have collectively cost Google approximately €8.25 billion. The case was initially triggered by a complaint from Microsoft in 2010. Google stated that it modified the targeted contracts in 2016 prior to the Commission’s decision.
In contrast, just last week, Google lost its final appeal against a €2.42 billion fine related to unfair advantages gained through its price comparison shopping service.
