Moltiply Takes on Google with €3 Billion Lawsuit Over Market Abuse

Italian digital group Moltiply has filed a massive €2.97 billion ($3.34 billion) lawsuit against Google, accusing the tech giant of abusing its dominant market position in the price comparison sector. The claim, lodged at a Milan court, alleges that Google unfairly promoted its own Google Shopping service at the expense of Moltiply’s subsidiary 7Pixel, which operates the well-known Italian comparison site Trovaprezzi.it.

The dispute centers on actions taken by Google between 2010 and 2017, a period during which Moltiply claims its business growth was deliberately hindered. The lawsuit leans on a precedent set by the European Court of Justice, which in 2017 upheld a European Commission ruling that fined Google €2.42 billion for antitrust violations in the price comparison market.

Google, however, dismissed the latest legal action. “We strongly disagree with these exorbitant private damages claims which disregard this successful and growing industry,” a Google spokesperson told Reuters. The company maintains that reforms introduced in 2017 to address the EU’s concerns have been effective, with the number of price comparison sites using its shopping services in Europe growing from just seven to over 1,550.

Why It Matters

The case marks one of the largest private follow-on damages claims in Europe stemming from an antitrust ruling against a Big Tech firm. It highlights the lingering impact of competition disputes in the digital economy and underscores how rivals are increasingly leveraging past regulatory decisions to pursue substantial financial compensation.