The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in London has ruled that Google's parent company, Alphabet, must face a massive lawsuit seeking up to £13.6 billion in damages for allegedly abusing its dominance in the online advertising market. The lawsuit, brought on behalf of UK publishers of websites and apps, accuses Google of engaging in anti-competitive behavior that has harmed their businesses.
The CAT's decision to certify the case and allow it to proceed to trial is a major setback for Google, which had argued that the case was incoherent and should be blocked. The tribunal, however, found that the case met the relatively low threshold for certification under the UK's collective proceedings regime.
Google has denied the allegations and vowed to fight the lawsuit "vigorously and on the facts." The company maintains that its practices in the ad tech industry have been pro-competitive and that it works constructively with publishers across the UK and Europe.
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal challenges and regulatory probes facing Google's adtech business. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority and the European Commission are both conducting investigations into Google's practices, while the company is also facing two antitrust lawsuits in the United States.
The CAT's ruling is a significant victory for the plaintiffs and could have far-reaching implications for Google's business practices. The trial, which is not expected to begin before the end of 2025, will delve into complex issues surrounding competition and market dominance in the online advertising industry. The outcome of the case could reshape the landscape of online advertising and set important precedents for future antitrust litigation against tech giants.
