Google ‘cost UK publishers £7bn in lost revenue’

GOOGLE’S digital advertising dominance has cost news publishers across Europe more than £21billion in lost revenue, lawyers claim.

The tech giant is accused of overcharging websites for its services while also cutting the amount they can earn from selling advertising space.

Yesterday, law firm Geradin Partners announced it would sue Google for £7billion in damages over its ‘anti-competitive practices’ on behalf of UK publishers.

A parallel £14billion case will also be brought against the search engine in Europe – bringing the total compensation sought to more than £21billion.

Founding partner Damien Geradin said: ‘Publishers, including local and national news media who play a vital role in our society, have long been harmed by Google’s anti-competitive conduct. It is time Google owns up to its responsibilities and pays back the damages it has caused to this important industry.’

Estimated to be worth more than £418billion last year, digital advertising is a key source of revenue for online publishers. Google has been accused of a stranglehold, acting as both middleman for advertisers and publishers while also owning the biggest marketplace for it.

Google said it ‘works constructively with publishers across Europe... This lawsuit is speculative and opportunistic.

‘When we receive the complaint, we’ll fight it vigorously.’