A Swedish court has begun hearing arguments in a lawsuit filed by Pricerunner, a Swedish price‑comparison site owned by Klaria, against Google. The suit seeks roughly $8.3 billion in damages, alleging that Google promoted its own shopping‑comparison service in search results.
The case follows a 2022 European Union General Court ruling that Google breached EU antitrust laws by manipulating search results to favor its own comparison‑shopping services. Pricerunner originally filed the suit with the Patent and Market Court in Stockholm in 2022, asking for about $2 billion in damages. The company has since increased the claim, citing the ongoing nature of the violation.
Klarna, which acquired Pricerunner in 2022, notes that the European Commission ruled in 2017 that Google had violated competition law by favoring its own shopping service. The European Court of Justice upheld that ruling in 2024, prompting Klarna to seek compensation. According to Klarna, the damages are based on an economic analysis of losses that continue to grow daily.
Klarna argues that Google’s dominance—over 90 percent of searches in Europe go through its platform—has reduced the visibility of independent price‑comparison sites such as Pricerunner. Before Google launched its own price‑comparison service, independent sites were reportedly ranked high in search results. Google, however, maintains that it has not abused its dominant position and that Pricerunner has not suffered any damage.
The trial, scheduled to run until December 19, will examine the merits of these claims and determine the outcome of the lawsuit. The case carries significant implications for the online retail landscape in Europe and beyond, underscoring the importance of fair competition in the digital marketplace.
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