A Berlin court has ruled that Google must pay a total of €572 million, approximately $665 million, to two German companies for engaging in anticompetitive practices. The ruling, first reported by Reuters, mandates that Google pay €465 million, or around $540 million, to the price comparison platform Idealo, and an additional €107 million, roughly $124 million, to Producto, another similar platform.
The court found that Google abused its dominant position in the market by favoring its own service, Google Shopping, in search results. Idealo initiated legal action against Google, alleging that the company engaged in “self-preferencing,” which provided it with unfair advantages over competitors. Initially, Idealo sought damages of at least €3.3 billion, equivalent to over $3.8 billion, in February 2025.
In response, Google argued that changes made in 2017 allowed competing shopping platforms equal opportunities to advertise through Google Search.
Legal Implications and Ongoing Actions
Idealo has stated its intention to maintain legal pressure on Google, asserting that the awarded damages represent only a fraction of the actual harm suffered. Albrecht von Sonntag, co-founder and member of Idealo’s advisory board, emphasized that “abuse of dominance must have consequences and must not be a profitable business model that pays off despite fines and damages.”
This ruling is not an isolated incident for Google, which has faced scrutiny and legal challenges within Europe regarding its business practices. The European Union has previously accused Google of favoring its own services, such as Google Flights and Google Hotels, in search results. In fact, the EU threatened significant fines for violations of its Digital Markets Act.
Just a month before this ruling, the European Commission imposed a fine of nearly €3 billion, or more than $3.4 billion, on Google for its anticompetitive practices in the advertising technology sector. This latest decision underscores ongoing tensions between regulatory bodies and major tech companies regarding fair competition and market conduct.
As the landscape of digital commerce continues to evolve, the implications of this ruling could resonate beyond Germany, affecting how major tech firms operate in various jurisdictions. The outcome also highlights the increasing vigilance of European regulators in enforcing competition laws and protecting market integrity.
