Google successfully overturned a €1.49 billion ($1.66 billion) antitrust fine imposed by the European Union in 2019, which targeted its online advertising business. The EU’s General Court ruled on Wednesday to annul the penalty, stating that the European Commission, the bloc’s top antitrust authority, made errors in its assessment of Google’s contracts with third-party websites.
The fine had been imposed for Google’s use of exclusivity clauses that allegedly restricted competitors from placing ads on websites alongside Google’s ads. However, the court found no sufficient evidence that these clauses stifled innovation or harmed consumers.
The ruling can be appealed to the EU’s top court, but only on points of law.
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