Legal Victory
successfully challenged a 1.49 billion euro EU antitrust fine, with the General Court annulled the 's 2019 decision, citing errors in assessing exclusivity clauses.
The commission's fine was based on allegations that Google’s contracts restricted competition by preventing rivals' ads on third-party sites, which the General Court found unsubstantiated.
Broader Context
This ruling can be appealed to the Court of Justice, the EU's highest court, but only on legal points, marking a significant win for Google in this long-running legal battle.
Google's victory contrasts with its defeat in a separate case where the EU Court of Justice upheld a 2.4 billion euro fine for favoring its shopping service, highlighting the tech giant's ongoing legal challenges in Europe.