In Google Antitrust Cases, Europe Looks To Shape Competition Law

Google will begin to respond this week to accusations from the European Commission that it has hamstrung competitors and limited consumer choice. The three major lawsuits Google faces against the European body represent a threat to billions in earnings from that region. For the EU, these cases will shape what competition law will look like for years to come. Google faces up to $7.5 billion in fines, and if the court finds that Google violated the EU’s antitrust rules, it will be forced to change how it operates in the 28-member bloc. The lengthy, drawn-out litigation could be a distraction keeping Google from focusing on new advancements it will need to stay relevant in a quickly-shifting technology landscape. “No matter what happens, antitrust is part of the picture for Google for many more years,” Ioannis Lianos, professor of global competition law and public policy at University College London, told the New York Times. “Even if Google wins, the fact that they are spending resources on this will affect their commercial thinking.”