The Complaint is brought on behalf of similarly situated publishers that sold digital Display Ad inventory through Google’s AdSense targeting consumers in the United States since March 11, 2008. Plaintiff seeks treble damages and injunctive relief for Google’s longstanding and continuing violations of sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §§1, 2.
Plaintiff alleges that Google maintained an exclusionary and anticompetitive campaign to obtain and maintain monopolies in several distinct, but closely related, relevant markets, including (a) publisher ad server services (“Publisher Ad Servers”); (b) display ad network services (“Ad Networks”); (c) display ad exchanges (“Exchanges”); and (d) display ad buying tools (“Ad Buying Tools”) (collectively, the “Relevant Markets”). These markets constitute what is referred to as the “Display Ad Stack.”
As alleged in the complaint, Google’s exclusionary conduct has had substantial anticompetitive effects in the Relevant Markets and has harmed publishers in that they have been paid lower-than-competitive rates for Digital Display Ad inventory.
Plaintiff and members of the proposed Class accordingly seek compensatory and injunctive relief for violations of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1 & 2.
A Copy of the complaint can be viewed here:
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