Czech website sues Google for exploiting search engine monopoly

Czech price comparison website Heureka.cz filled a lawsuit against Google at the Prague Municipal Court on Friday. The company is suing Google for nearly CZK 395 million in lost profits, because the American internet search giant continues to abuse its dominant position on the market, Heureka.cz CEO Tomáš Braverman told news site Lupa.cz.

According to Mr Braverman, Google favoured its own price comparison tool Google Shopping ahead of other competing platforms. The malpractice was already punished by the European Commission in 2017, when Google received a EUR 2.42 billion fine. The American search giant subsequently implemented changes to its system. However, seven European price comparison companies, Heureka.cz among them, say these are insufficient and have decided to file lawsuits against Google.

Mr Braverman told Lupa.cz he expects other companies to follow suit.