We Took on Google and They Were Forced to Pay Billions

A couple who created the price-comparison site Foundem in 2006 claim that Google essentially disappeared their site from the internet by burying it in search results for over three years. The couple's 15-year legal battle against Google culminated in a record €2.4 billion fine for Google, which was deemed to have abused its market dominance. The case has been hailed as a landmark moment in the global regulation of Big Tech. Google spent seven years fighting the verdict but was rejected by the European Court of Justice in September this year. The couple initially thought their website's faltering start was a mistake and sent numerous requests to Google to have the restriction lifted, but received no response. They later discovered that their site was not the only one to have been put at a disadvantage by Google, with around 20 claimants, including Kelkoo, Trivago, and Yelp. The European Commission found that Google had illegally promoted its own comparison shopping service in search results, whilst demoting those of competitors. The couple believes Google's conduct remains anti-competitive and is pursuing a civil damages claim against Google, which is due to begin in 2026. Despite their potential victory, the couple was forced to close Foundem in 2016, making any future win a likely Pyrrhic one. Google continues to contest the claims made by Foundem and will do so when the case is considered by the courts.