UK Based Legal Professor or Brook has filed a class action against Google Worth Approximately £ 5BN in the UK competition The class action, brieft on behalf of hundreds of useds of Uk-Based Organizations that Used Google's search advertising services, accuses google of abusing its Near-total dominance in the general Market to Drive Up Prices.
This latest class action follows on from One filled by nikki stopfordCo-founder of consumer voice, and legal firm hausfeld & co lLP, and appears to focus on the Google's Anti-Competitiveness.
Stopford's case looks at the cost to consumers due to increase advertising costs businesses In November Last Year, Google's Attempt to Throw out Stopford's case was dismissed, Paving the way for the case to be heard at the cat.
Along with stopford's case, in january, the competition and markets Authority (CMA) Began Ann Investigation seeking to determine if google has strategic market status In search and search advertising activities, and white these services are delivering good outstcomes for people and businesses in the uk.
The Brook Case appears to be looking specificly at the cost to business arising from google business practices devices and Google's payments to apple To ensure google search is default on the safari browser.
The class action also covers google's search engine management platform (SA360). Brook alleges that this offers better functionality and more features regarding Google's own advertising offering than that of its competitors.
Damien garadin, founding partner of geradin partners, the legal firm representing Brook, said: “This is the first claim of its kind in the uk that that seeks redress for the harm caused speech Been forced to pay inflated prices for advertising space on google pages. “
In the claim, Brook argues that google has been shutting out competition in the general search and search advertising markets.
The claim argues that Google's ConduC Restricted competition in general search. Brook Contests that Google has ensured that its own search platform is the only viable means of advertising to the vast majority of consumers, and inteced its dominance in search advertising.
She Said: “Today, UK Businesses and Organizations, Big or Small, have almost no choice but use google ads to advertise their products and services. Regulators Around the World from DESCRIED DESCRIED Monopoly and second a spot on google's top pages is essential for visibility.
“Google has been learned and search advertising market to overcharge advertisers.” Seeking compensation on behalf of uk advertisers who have been overcharged. “
On top of the class actions, google is also being investigated by the CMA, which is looking at whether its play store requires app developers to sign up to unfair terms and conditions as a conditions of Distributing their apps.