A Berlin regional court has ruled that Google must pay more than €570 million in damages to two German price comparison platforms after finding that the company abused its dominant market position over several years. The decision marks one of the most significant private antitrust damages awards against the U.S. technology company in the European Union, Reuters reported.
In two separate rulings, the court ordered Google to pay €465 million to Idealo, a leading German price comparison service owned by media group Axel Springer, and €107 million to Producto, another comparison platform. Both judgments are subject to appeal, a court spokesperson confirmed.
According to the court, Google engaged in abusive practices in the market for price comparison services between 2008 and 2023. Idealo and Producto argued that Google systematically favored its own product, Google Shopping, in search results, disadvantaging rival platforms and limiting consumer visibility of alternative offers.
Idealo had originally sought €3.3 billion in damages, including interest. Following the rulings, the company pledged to continue its legal battle. “We will continue to fight – because market abuse must have consequences and must not become a lucrative business model that pays off despite fines and damages payments,” said Idealo co-founder Albrecht von Sonntag.
Google sharply criticized the decisions and announced it would appeal. A company spokesperson said Google disagreed with the court’s findings and defended the steps the company took after the European Commission’s 2017 antitrust ruling against Google Shopping.
Google maintains that its post-2017 changes ensured equal treatment of rival services. “The changes we made in 2017 have proven successful without intervention from the European Commission,” the spokesperson said, noting that the number of price comparison sites participating in the redesigned Shopping Unit rose from seven to 1,550.
The rulings come amid heightened scrutiny of Google’s search practices across Europe and may signal further momentum for private enforcement actions seeking compensation for past market abuses. Idealo has indicated that its broader claims against Google will proceed despite the partial award.