Google To Appeal European Commission Anti-Competitive Ruling

Google is appealing the fine dealt by the European Union for engaging in anti-competitive behavior due to its product search comparison tool, reported TechCrunch.

According to a report in TechCrunch, the EU ruling in which it fined Google a record $2.73 billion for giving its own service “an illegal advantage by abusing its dominance in general Internet search,” is being appealed by Google parent Alphabet with hopes it will be overturned.

The report pointed to the fact that earlier in September the ECJ, Europe’s top court, ruled a lower court needs to review an appeal by Intel over a separate antitrust case. ECJ judges ordered a lower court to reexamine the decision that kept the antitrust judgment in place, according to the report. The ECJ argued the lower court did not properly analyze economic aspects of the lawsuit.

Although the two cases have nothing to do with each other, TechCrunch reported the ruling gives Google a glimmer of hope it can successfully appeal its case.

In August, Google began complying with the European Commission’s ruling against Google Shopping by providing details about how it will amend its price comparison service. The details have not been made public, reported TechCrunch, noting it looks as though Google is complying with the ruling and at the same time appealing it.

A spokeswoman for the ECJ told TechCrunch Google has not filed an application for interim measures.

“On average, it takes between 18 months and two years from the day on which an appeal is lodged to final judgment being handed down,” the spokesperson said.

She told TechCrunch the ECJ is looking into other complaints related to completion against other Google Services such as image search, maps and travel search. There haven’t been any formal investigations launched as of yet on those fronts.