Google drops after partially losing antitrust case
A federal judge found today that Alphabet illegally monopolized some online advertising technology markets. US District Judge Leonie Brinkema said Google violated antitrust law in the markets for advertising exchanges and ad servers. Google was previously found to have a monopoly in search.
In the memorandum opinion, the judge wrote:
In sum, Plaintiffs have shown that Google engaged in “willful acquisition or maintenance of [its monopoly] power as distinguished from growth or development as a consequence of a superior product, business acumen, or historic accident” by tying DFP to AdX and committing a series of exclusionary and anticompetitive acts to entrench its monopoly power in two adjacent product markets.
The court will set a date to discuss remedies, which could include monetary damages and the divesture of Google’s publisher ad server and ad exchange products.
In the memorandum opinion, the judge wrote:
In sum, Plaintiffs have shown that Google engaged in “willful acquisition or maintenance of [its monopoly] power as distinguished from growth or development as a consequence of a superior product, business acumen, or historic accident” by tying DFP to AdX and committing a series of exclusionary and anticompetitive acts to entrench its monopoly power in two adjacent product markets.
The court will set a date to discuss remedies, which could include monetary damages and the divesture of Google’s publisher ad server and ad exchange products.
