Online price comparison: EU Judgment in Case C-605/21 Heureka Group

Thursday 18th April

Judgment in Case C-605/21 Heureka Group (Online price comparison)

(Competition – Dominant position)

The reference for a preliminary ruling was made in proceedings between the Czech undertaking Heureka Group a.s. and Google LLC concerning an action for damages for an abuse of a dominant position within the meaning of Article 102 TFEU.

The action at issue was initiated by Heureka on 26 June 2020, following the Commission’s decision of 27 June 2017 in the Google Search (Shopping) case (see summary of the decision). In that decision, the Commission found that Google had committed an infringement of Article 102 TFEU in that, on its search results pages, it displayed its own price comparison service more favourably than competing services. The Commission noted that the infringement had been taking place in the Czech Republic since February 2013.

Heureka, being an operator of a price comparison service, seeks compensation for damage suffered in the form of loss of revenue, amounting to CZK 394,857,000 (approximately € 15,600,000), over the period from February 2013 until the Commission’s decision was issued on June 27, 2017.

During the proceedings before the referring court, Google raised a plea of limitation. It argued that the three-year subjective limitation period provided for under Czech law had begun to run gradually from February 2013, as Heureka had been able to become aware of two circumstances that were decisive for triggering that period, namely the existence of the damage and the identity of its perpetrator, from the outset of the infringement.

The referring court, having doubts as to the interpretation of the limitation rules as set out in the Damages Directive (Directive 2014/104), and as to the conformity of the national legislation with that directive, decided to stay proceedings and to refer a question to the Court for a preliminary ruling.

Background Documents C-605/21

Donnerstag, 18. April 2024

Urteil des Gerichtshofs (Große Kammer) in der Rechtssache C‑605/21 Heureka Group (Online-Preisvergleiche)

Wettbewerbsrecht

Die Gesellschaft Heureka Group hat beim Stadtgericht Prag, dem vorlegenden Gericht, eine Klage eingereicht. Sie verlangt von der Gesellschaft Google LLC Ersatz des Schadens in Form eines entgangenen Gewinns der mutmaßlich durch den Missbrauch einer beherrschenden Stellung in der Weise verursacht worden ist, dass Google LLC an bestmöglicher Stelle zwischen den Ergebnissen der allgemeinen Suche ihren eigenen Preisvergleichsdienst zum Nachteil des Vergleichsdiensts der Klägerin platziert und dargestellt hat.

Das Vorlegende Gericht hegt Zweifel an der Auslegung der einschlägigen unionsrechtlichen Verjährungsvorschriften, sowie an der Vereinbarkeit der nationalen Regelung mit den besagten unionsrechtlichen Vorschriften.

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