Thursday 11th January 2024
Opinion in Case C-48/22 P Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
(Competition)
In its decision of 27 June 2017, the Commission found that Google had given preference to the results of its own price comparison service over those of competing price comparison services on its general search results page.
The Commission came to the conclusion that Google had abused its dominant position on the markets for general internet search services and for specialised search services. As a result, it imposed a fine of €2,424,495,000 on Google, for which Alphabet, as Google’s sole shareholder, is jointly and severally liable in the amount of €523,518,000.
Google and Alphabet challenged the Commission’s decision before the General Court of the European Union. By judgment of 10 November 2021, the General Court essentially dismissed the action and, in particular, confirmed the fine.
However, the General Court did not consider it proven that Google’s behaviour had even potential anti-competitive effects on the market for general search services and consequently annulled the decision insofar as the Commission had found an infringement of the prohibition of abuse of a dominant position in relation to that market as well.
Google and Alphabet then appealed to the Court of Justice, seeking to have the General Court’s judgment set aside insofar as it dismissed their action and to have the Commission’s decision annulled.
Background Documents C-48/22 P
Donnerstag, 11. Januar 2024
Schlussanträge der Generalanwältin am Gerichtshof in der Rechtsmittelsache C-48/22 P Google und Alphabet / Kommission (Google Shopping)
Missbrauch marktbeherrschender Stellung durch Vorzugsbehandlung des eigenen Preisvergleichsdienstes
Mit Beschluss vom 27. Juni 2017 „Google Search [Shopping])“ verhängte die Kommission gegen Google eine Geldbuße in Höhe von 2,42 Mrd. Euro, weil das Unternehmen seine marktbeherrschende Stellung als Suchmaschinenbetreiber missbraucht habe, indem es einem anderen Google-Produkt – seinem Preisvergleichsdienst – einen unrechtmäßigen Vorteil verschafft habe (siehe Pressemitteilung der Kommission IP/17/1784). Gegen diesen Beschluss haben Google und Alphabet Klage beim Gericht der EU erhoben.
Das Gericht der EU hat diese Klage im Wesentlichen abgewiesen und die gegen Google verhängte Geldbuße bestätigt (siehe Pressemitteilung Nr. 197/21).
Gegen diese Entscheidung hat Google ein Rechtsmittel beim Gerichtshof eingelegt.
Generalanwältin Kokott legt heute ihre Schlussanträge vor.
We and use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your experience on our website. We may store and/or access information on a device and process personal data, such as your IP address and browsing data, for personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development. Additionally, we may utilize precise geolocation data and identification through device scanning.
Please note that your consent will be valid across all our subdomains. You can change or withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the “Consent Preferences” button at the bottom of your screen. We respect your choices and are committed to providing you with a transparent and secure browsing experience.
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
__stripe_mid | This cookie is set by Stripe payment gateway. This cookie is used to enable payment on the website without storing any patment information on a server. | |
__stripe_sid | This cookie is set by Stripe payment gateway. This cookie is used to enable payment on the website without storing any patment information on a server. | |
_abck | This cookie is used to detect and defend when a client attempt to replay a cookie.This cookie manages the interaction with online bots and takes the appropriate actions. | |
_wpfuuid | This cookie is used by the WPForms WordPress plugin. The cookie is used to allows the paid version of the plugin to connect entries by the same user and is used for some additional features like the Form Abandonment addon. | |
ASP.NET_SessionId | Issued by Microsoft's ASP.NET Application, this cookie stores session data during a user's website visit. | |
AWSALBCORS | This cookie is managed by Amazon Web Services and is used for load balancing. | |
bm_sz | This cookie is set by the provider Akamai Bot Manager. This cookie is used to manage the interaction with the online bots. It also helps in fraud preventions | |
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". | |
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". | |
cookielawinfo-checbox-others | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. | |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". | |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". | |
elementor | This cookie is used by the website's WordPress theme. It allows the website owner to implement or change the website's content in real-time. | |
JSESSIONID | Used by sites written in JSP. General purpose platform session cookies that are used to maintain users' state across page requests. | |
viewed_cookie_policy | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
_ga | The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. | |
_ga_4L7PKQPHHV | This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. | |
_ga_T50H0MNN9J | This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. | |
_gat_gtag_UA_12289088_5 | Set by Google to distinguish users. | |
_gcl_au | Provided by Google Tag Manager to experiment advertisement efficiency of websites using their services. | |
_gid | Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. |
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
test_cookie | The test_cookie is set by doubleclick.net and is used to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. |
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
_mcid | No description available. | |
_swa_u | This cookie is set by the provider Sitewit.com. This cookie is used for statistical report and analysis. | |
ak_bmsc | No description available. | |
AWSALB | AWSALB is a cookie generated by the Application load balancer in the Amazon Web Services. It works slightly different from AWSELB. | |
ec_store_chameleon_font | No description available. | |
FCCDCF | No description available. | |
issuem_lp | No description available. | |
lp_us_his | No description | |
m | No description available. |