Alphabet Inc.-owned (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOG) Google's years-long regulatory fight in Europe has intensified after its first defeat under the EU's new digital competition rules, clearing the way for private damages claims that could total as much as $10 billion.
Google faces mounting legal risks after receiving a $1 billion Digital Markets Act (DMA) fine for favoring its own services and restricting app developers from directing users to cheaper payment options outside Google Play.
Thomas Hoppner, a partner at Geradin Partners, said the ruling could trigger a wave of new lawsuits, following a German court's €465 million ($528.9 million) antitrust damages award to price comparison platform Idealo, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
According to Hoppner, specialized search firms could seek damages not only for violations under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) but also for earlier conduct under Article 102, which prohibits companies from abusing a dominant market position.
Google's promotion of its own shopping service in search results led to a sharp drop in traffic for rival comparison sites, resulting in a €2.42 billion ($2.75 billion) EU antitrust fine in 2017, upheld by Europe's top court last year.
