A Google says the class action lawsuit filed against it by regional Australian publisher the Riverine Grazier "ignores the intense competition where ad buyers and sellers have plenty of choice".
The action, run by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers with law firm Phi Finney McDonald, was filed over revenue lost because of Google's domination of the digital display advertising industry.
A spokesperson said Google's advertising technology tools help websites and apps fund their content and enable businesses of all sizes to effectively reach new customers.
"Google creates value for our publishers and advertiser partners in this highly competitive sector," the spokesperson said.
"We look forward to making our case."
Riverine Grazier GM Krista Schade said the publication is just one of many thousands of publishers in Australia and worldwide simply trying to earn fair income from online advertising to support the important job of news publishing, who find themselves stifled by Google’s conduct.
“Our online stories are read across the globe, and our website is accessed by readers every single day, yet the remuneration to us from using Google’s services is a pittance," she said.
"We think it is unfairly low.”
In September 2024, Google was accused by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) of running a monopoly over its advertising technology.
"Having inserted itself into all aspects of the digital advertising marketplace, Google has used anticompetitive, exclusionary, and unlawful means to eliminate or severely diminish any threat to its dominance over digital advertising technologies," the DOJ said in its filing.
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