Italian digital group Moltiply has filed a €2.97 billion ($3.33 billion) lawsuit against Alphabet Inc., alleging years of anti-competitive practices by its Google unit that hindered the growth of its price comparison platform Trovaprezzi.it.
The complaint, lodged in a Milan court, is built upon a 2017 landmark decision by the European Commission, which found Google guilty of abusing its dominant market position to favor its own shopping service over rivals. That verdict led to a €2.42 billion fine, upheld in 2024 by the EU’s General Court.
According to Moltiply, the damage was done between 2010 and 2017, when Google systematically demoted competing comparison sites in its search results — directly impacting 7Pixel, the Moltiply subsidiary behind Trovaprezzi.it.
“This lawsuit aims to restore what was denied to us by years of discriminatory conduct,” the company said in a statement Friday, adding that it is seeking compensation for both lost revenues and market share.
The case adds fresh weight to long-standing antitrust scrutiny against Google in Europe, where regulators have already handed down billions in fines over similar conduct.
In a brief statement, Google said it is “reviewing the lawsuit,” reiterating that it had adjusted its shopping service to comply with the Commission’s ruling.
“We strongly disagree with these exorbitant private damages claims which disregard the reality of a successful and growing shopping comparison market,” a spokesperson for the company said.
The proceedings could mark one of the largest private damages claims ever filed against a U.S. tech firm in Italy, with potentially far-reaching implications for future litigation tied to past EU regulatory action.
