Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber, Extended Composition) of 10 November 2021

Google LLC, formerly Google Inc. and Alphabet, Inc. v European Commission

Competition – Abuse of dominant position – Online general search services and specialised product search services – Decision finding an infringement of Article 102 TFEU and Article 54 of the EEA Agreement – Leveraging abuse – Competition on the merits or anticompetitive practice – Conditions of access by competitors to a dominant undertaking’s service the use of which cannot be effectively replaced – Dominant undertaking favouring the display of results from its own specialised search service – Effects – Need to establish a counterfactual scenario – None – Objective justifications – None – Possibility of imposing a fine having regard to certain circumstances – Guidelines on the method of setting fines – Unlimited jurisdiction

Case T-612/17



Top of the page Documents in the Case
Document Date Name of the parties Subject-matter Curia EUR-Lex Autres Liens
Order
17/02/2022 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Judgment (OJ)
17/12/2021 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Judgment
ECLI:EU:T:2021:763		 10/11/2021 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Judgment
ECLI:EU:T:2021:763		 10/11/2021 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Abstract
ECLI:EU:T:2021:763		 10/11/2021 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2020:69		 10/02/2020 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2019:770		 08/10/2019 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2019:250		 11/04/2019 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:1005		 17/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:1011		 17/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:1010		 17/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:1007		 17/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:1008		 17/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:1009		 17/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:1029		 17/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:1028		 17/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:978		 07/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:982		 07/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:996		 07/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:1001		 07/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:1002		 07/12/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Order
ECLI:EU:T:2018:292		 16/05/2018 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
Available in :
EUR-Lex text EUR-Lex bilingual text
Application (OJ)
13/10/2017 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)
Competition
- Dominant position
  • Competition
  • - Dominant position
View pdf documents
Top of the page Legal analysis of the decision or of the case

Reports of Cases

published in the electronic Reports of Cases (Court Reports - general)

Subject-matter

Information not available

Systematic classification scheme

1.
-
3 Legal proceedings
  3.02 Actions for annulment
    3.02.00 General
-
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.48 Presumption of innocence and right of defence
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.02 Procedure for the application of the competition rules by the Commission
        4.08.03.02.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.02 Procedure for the application of the competition rules by the Commission
        4.08.03.02.08 Decision of the Commission
-
3 Legal proceedings
  3.02 Actions for annulment
    3.02.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.01 Definition of abuse
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
-
3 Legal proceedings
  3.08 Procedural rules
    3.08.02 Intervention
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.01 Definition of abuse
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.01 Definition of abuse
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.01 Definition of abuse
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.02 Determination of the relevant market
        4.08.02.02.01 Product or products constituting a market
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.03 Fines imposed by the Commission
        4.08.03.03.08 Judicial review
          4.08.03.03.08.03 Review in the exercise of unlimited jurisdiction
            4.08.03.03.08.03.02 Power to vary the amount of the fine
              4.08.03.03.08.03.02.00 General
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.03 Fines imposed by the Commission
        4.08.03.03.01 Fines for infringements committed 'intentionally or negligently'
-
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.03 Fines imposed by the Commission
        4.08.03.03.01 Fines for infringements committed 'intentionally or negligently'


Citations of case-law or legislation

References in grounds of judgment

Operative part

Opinion

Information not available


Dates

Date of the lodging of the application initiating proceedings

Information not available

Date of the Opinion

Information not available

Date of the hearing

Information not available

Date of delivery

10/11/2021


References

Publication in the Official Journal

Information not available

Name of the parties

Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping)

Notes on Academic Writings

  1. Tamayo Velasco, Jimena: Algunas reflexiones en torno al caso Google Search: la Sentencia del Tribunal General de 10 de noviembre de 2021, Revista de Derecho de la Competencia y la Distribución 2021, nº 29, p. 1-21 (ES)
  2. Idot, Laurence: Concurrence - Abus de position dominante, Europe 2022, nº 1 Janvier, comm. 17 (FR)
  3. Bergqvist, Christian: Google Shopping and self-favouring as a separate abuse : T-612/17, European Competition Law Review 2022 p. 191-195 (EN)
  4. Lindeboom, Justin: Rules, discretion, and reasoning according to law : a dynamic-positivist perspective on Google Shopping : case T-612/17, Google LLC, Formerly Google Inc. and Alphabet, Inc. v, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2022 Vol. 13 nº 2 p. 63-74 (EN)
  5. Bostoen, Friso: The General Court’s Google Shopping judgment finetuning the legal qualifications and tests for platform abuse : case T-612/17 Google LLC, formerly Google Inc. and Alphabet, Inc. v, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2022 Vol. 13 nº 2 p. 75-86 (EN)
  6. Ahlborn, Christian ; Van Gerven, Gerwin ; Leslie, William: Bronner revisited : Google Shopping and the resurrection of discrimination under Article 102 TFEU : case T-612/17 Google v Commission, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2022 Vol. 13 nº 2 p. 87-98 (EN)
  7. Hornkohl, Lena: Article 102 TFEU : equal treatment and discrimination after Google Shopping : case T-612/17 Google LLC, formerly Google Inc. and Alphabet, Inc. v Commission, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2022 Vol. 13 nº 2 p. 99-111 (EN)
  8. Di Giovanni Bezzi, Raffaele: Anticompetitive effects and allocation of the burden of proof in Article 102 cases : lessons from the Google Shopping case : T-612/17, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2022 Vol. 13 nº 2 p. 112-124 (EN)
  9. Gaudin, Germain ; Mantzari, Despoina: Google Shopping and the as-efficient-competitor test : taking stock and looking ahead : case T-612/17, Google and Alphabet v Commission, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2022 Vol. 13 nº 2 p. 125-135 (EN)
  10. Bouzoraa, Yasmine L.: Between substance and autonomy : finding legal certainty in Google Shopping : case T-612/17 Google LLC, formerly Google Inc. and Alphabet, Inc. v Commission, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2022 Vol. 13 nº 2 p. 144-153 (EN)
  11. Mouton, Jeanne ; Reed, Lewis: Following the Google Shopping judgment, should we expect a private enforcement action? : case T-612/17 Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping), Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2022 Vol. 13 nº 2 p. 154-163 (EN)
  12. Achleitner, Ranjana Andrea: Selbstbegünstigung als Konzept des Marktmissbrauchs unter Art. 102 AEUV : das Grundsatzurteil des EuG zu Google Shopping als Initialzündung für einen Wandel in der Digitalwirtschaft? : Anmerkung zum Urteil des EuG v. 10.11.2021, Rs. T-612/17 (Google und Alphabet/Kommission [Google Shopping]), Europarecht 2022 p. 253-271 (DE)
  13. Hoppner, Thomas: The European Google Shopping competition saga, compliance and the rule of law, Global Competition Litigation Review 2022, nº 1, p. 1-19 (EN)
  14. Mulder, Jotte: Google Shopping en het verbod op self-preferencing : een nieuwe norm voor Big Tech? : gerecht 10 november 2021, T-612/17 (Google en Alphabet/Commissie), Markt & Mededinging 2022 p. 66-73 (NL)
  15. Slot, P.J.: Google : gerecht van de Europese Unie 10 november 2021, T-612/17 : met noot, Ars aequi 2022 p. 490-494 (NL)
  16. Huijts, A.M.: Het Google Shopping-arrest : misbruik of marktwerking? : een kwestie van verdienste : T-612/17, Nederlands tijdschrift voor Europees recht 2022 p. 74-80 (NL)
  17. Kolasiński, Marek Krzysztof: Self-preferencing in European Union competition law after the Google Shopping judgment : Google LLC v European Commission (T-612/17), European Competition Law Review 2022, n° 9, p. 435-440 (EN)
  18. D’Amico, Alessia Sophia ; Balasingham, Baskaran: Super-dominant and super-problematic? : the degree of dominance in the Google Shopping judgement : T-612/17, European Competition Journal 2022, Vol. 18, n° 3, p. 614-630 (EN)
  19. Idot, Laurence: L'article 102 TFUE et les suites de l'arrêt Intel, Revue trimestrielle de droit européen 2022, n° 4, p. 766-774 (FR)
  20. Veer, Jan Peter van der ; Dijk, Theon W.P. van: Google, Intel en de AEC-test : verwarring ontrafeld : T-612/17 (Google Shoping), T-286/09 RENV, INTEL, Markt & Mededinging 2022 p. 123-129 (NL)
  21. Marty, Frédéric: Abus d’éviction : Le Tribunal de l’Union européenne confirme la décision de la Commission européenne dans l’affaire d’abus de position dominante sur le marché des comparateurs de prix en ligne (Google Shopping), Concurrences : revue des droits de la concurrence 2022, nº 1, p. 93-100 (FR)
  22. Tagliavini, Michael: Self-preferencing and the concept of abuse of dominance : much ado about nothing? : Google LLC (formerly Google Inc) v European Commission (T-612/17 R), European Competition Law Review 2023, n° 5, p. 201-211 (EN)
  23. Melchionda, Andrea: Here Lies the Indispensability Condition: The General Court’s Judgments in the Google v. Commission Saga, Legal Issues of Economic Integration 2023, Volume 50, Issue 1, p. 93-116 (EN)
  24. Auer, Dirk ; Radic, Lazare: The Growing Legacy of Intel, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2023, Volume 14, Issue 1, p. 15-23 (EN)
  25. Colangelo, Giuseppe: Antitrust Unchained: The EU’s Case Against Self-Preferencing, Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht INT 2023, n° 6, p. 538-556 (EN)
  26. Colangelo, Giuseppe: Antitrust unchained : the EU’s case against self-preferencing : case T-612/17 Google LLC and Alphabet Inc. v European Commission, Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht INT 2023 p. 538-556 (EN)
  27. Bruc, Édouard: Google Shopping and Article 106 TFEU : A Legal Dystopia in the EU Constitutional Order, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2023, Volume 14, Issue 6, p. 334-346 (EN)
  28. Rizzuto, Francesco: The implications of the Alphabet ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union for the regulation of online digital markets, European Competition Law Review 2025, Volume 46, Issue 7, p. 252-261 (EN)



Procedural Analysis Information

Source of the question referred for a preliminary ruling

Information not available

Subject-matter

  • Competition
  • - Dominant position

Provisions of national law referred to

Information not available

Provisions of international law referred to

Information not available

Procedure and result

  • Actions for annulment : application granted
  • Actions for annulment : dismissal on substantive grounds

Formation of the Court

Neuvième chambre élargie (Tribunal)

Judge-Rapporteur

Madise

Advocate General

Information not available

Language(s) of the Case

  • English

Language(s) of the Opinion

    Information not available