Difficult end of year for the Internet giant. The Paris commercial court has just ordered him to pay 26.8 million euros to Equativ, a French company specializing in advertising technology.
A case that dates back several years
To make this judgment, the court relied on another conviction targeting Google. In 2021, the company was fined 220 million euros for abuse of a dominant position in the online advertising sector, which it blithely dominates. Following this decision, Equativ took the matter to the capital’s commercial court, demanding 369.1 million euros to compensate for the damage suffered.
Because the firm is positioning itself as a direct competitor to Google in two key segments. First, the adserver, which manages the display of advertisements on websites. It decides which advertisement to show, at what time, and where on the page. But also at the level of the SSP (Supply-Side Platform). This more sophisticated technology allows publishers to automatically sell their advertising space to the highest bidders, in real time.
The commercial court decided on much lower compensation than what was requested by Equativ. In question, its refusal to comment on possible harm outside France. Both parties have fifteen days to appeal.
“ We disagree with this decision which is based on erroneous interpretations of the ad technology sector (…). At the same time, our commitments to the French Competition Authority demonstrate the extent of the work carried out with regulators in order to answer questions concerning our activity. », Reacted Google.
Google’s eventful end of the year
Certainly, the Mountain View firm must face numerous legal debacles at the end of the year. Ordered to open the Play Store in the United States after losing its case against Epic Games, it also failed to win a case opposing it to the United States government, relating to its abuse of a dominant position in the engine sector. research.
She is currently facing him in another trial which, this time, concerns online advertising. Google risks very big, sincea dismantling of its adtech was mentioned by the plaintiffs in the event of guilt.
- The Paris commercial court has just ordered Google to pay 26.8 million euros to the French company Equativ.
- Google was found guilty of abusing its dominant position in online advertising, harming the adtech industry with which it competes.
- Google, in trouble with the American justice system, says to itself “ disagree » with the decision of the Parisian body.
