Tue Oct 29 10:38:16 UTC 2024: ## Google Fined £2.4 Billion in Antitrust Case: Couple Wins 15-Year Battle
**London, UK** – A British couple has won a landmark legal battle against Google, securing a record-breaking £2.4 billion (approximately ₹21790 crores) fine after a 15-year legal struggle. The case, initiated in 2006, stemmed from allegations that Google unfairly suppressed the search ranking of the couple’s price comparison website, Foundem.
Foundem, founded by Shivon and Adam Rafer, was quickly hampered by Google’s spam filter algorithm, which significantly lowered its ranking in search results for relevant keywords. This resulted in limited traffic and revenue, ultimately forcing the couple to shut down Foundem in 2016.
“We were monitoring our pages and their ranking, and we saw them plummet immediately,” said Adam Rafer, recalling the initial shock. “At first, we thought it was a mistake. We believed we could fix it if we did something.”
Despite multiple attempts to rectify the situation, the ranking remained low, significantly impacting Foundem’s business. Investigations revealed that Google had misused its own shopping service to disadvantage its competitor, Foundem, effectively abusing its market dominance.
In 2017, the European Union issued a fine against Google, citing its misuse of its market power. This ruling was appealed by Google, leading to a seven-year legal battle. However, the European Court of Justice upheld the fine in 2024, concluding that Google’s actions were anticompetitive.
“We both felt we couldn’t make a difference,” said Shivon Rafer, lamenting the years-long struggle. “We don’t like people who bully.”
The couple is now pursuing a separate case against Google for emotional distress, with the trial scheduled for 2026.
Despite the significant financial victory, the Rafer’s express regret over the lengthy battle. “If we knew it would take 15 years, we would have thought twice before starting it,” admitted Adam.
This landmark case underscores the ongoing battle against tech giants’ potential abuse of market power. It also serves as a reminder that even seemingly insurmountable challenges can be overcome with persistent determination and a belief in justice.
First Piper 