Google Must Face Trial for Ad Dominance, Judge Rules

170

Alphabet’s Google will proceed to trial over allegations from U.S. antitrust enforcers that it unlawfully dominates the online advertising technology market, as ruled by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia on Friday.

During the hearing, Judge Brinkema denied Google’s motion for summary judgment, which aimed to secure a victory without a trial. Google argued that antitrust laws do not prohibit companies from refusing to engage with competitors and contested the regulators’ definition of the ad tech market.

Details from the court session were not disclosed in the filings, but such motions are typically denied when factual disputes necessitate a trial. The trial is scheduled to commence on September 9th under Judge Brinkema’s oversight.

A spokesperson for Google expressed readiness to present its case in court, stating, “We look forward to setting the record straight.” Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment.

Last year, the Justice Department and a coalition of states initiated legal action against Google, alleging monopolistic practices in digital advertising and excessive charges to users. The lawsuit primarily seeks to dismantle Google’s digital advertising operations to foster greater market competition.

In another development, Judge Brinkema granted a request from regulators to exclude testimony from a former FBI agent serving as a cybersecurity consultant for Google during the trial.

Recently, Google achieved a procedural victory when Judge Brinkema approved moving forward with a bench trial, opting to proceed without a jury. This decision followed the company’s settlement of claims related to its impact on the U.S. government.