Dutch and British publishers have launched €25 billion damages claims against Google. This is based on what they called the company’s anti-competitive practices regarding advertising technology.
Dutch Claims is open to publishers across the EU and uses Dutch legislation that facilitates the submission and funding of large claims. The UK claims are separate and are aimed at UK publishers.
“At a time when many media organizations were struggling to pay their journalists, Google deprived them of billions of dollars in revenue through anti-competitive behavior,” said the Brussels law coordinating the lawsuit. The firm Geradin Partners said in a statement.
“For many publishers, it would be too expensive to sue a giant like Google. Without this action, these damages would not be addressed.
2021, French competition authorities fined €220 million in damages to Google in connection with its conduct in ad tech. It’s the name given to the technology that powers the online ads that billions of consumers see when surfing the web or using their smartphones.
So far, two major Dutch publishers are participating in the process, reports Financieele Dagblad. Though unnamed, FD says it is likely his DPG and Mediahuis, who own all Dutch dailies except FD.
Both publishing groups use Google’s digital advertising system, which has largely replaced direct sales.
Google told FD it has a constructive relationship with publishers and views the lawsuit as “speculative and opportunistic”. I will,” he said.
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https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2022/09/dutch-publishers-launch-mass-claim-against-google-over-ads/ Dutch publisher files massive lawsuit against Google over ads