Google Wins Challenge Against €1.49 Billion Antitrust Fine

Alphabet unit Google successfully challenged a €1.49 billion antitrust fine related to online search advertising imposed by the European Commission. The Luxembourg-based General Court annulled the fine, citing the Commission's failure to properly assess the duration of the unfair practices that took place between 2006-2016.

Alphabet unit Google won its challenge on Wednesday against a €1.49 billion antitrust fine imposed five years ago for hindering rivals in online search advertising. This comes a week after losing a larger case.

The European Commission in 2019 ruled that Google abused its dominance to prevent websites from using ad brokers other than its AdSense platform. The Luxembourg-based General Court mostly agreed with the Commission's findings but annulled the fine, citing insufficient consideration of all relevant circumstances regarding contract duration.

The case, triggered by a Microsoft complaint in 2010, is part of a trio of fines totaling €8.25 billion against Google. In its defense, Google noted it altered the contested contracts in 2016. Last week, the company lost its final appeal against a €2.42 billion fine for using its price comparison service unfairly.

(With inputs from agencies.)