Allegro Subsidiary Sues Google for $567 Million Over Anti-Competitive Practices
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Ceneo, a subsidiary of Polish e-commerce platform Allegro, has filed a lawsuit against Google owner Alphabet, Google Ireland, and Google LLC, seeking 2.33 billion zlotys ($567.6 million) in damages, according to a report by Reuters.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, alleges that Google's practice of favoring its own price comparison service in browser results has caused Ceneo significant financial losses.
"Ceneo is demanding compensation for losses it says it suffered due to Google's practices of preferring its own price comparison service in browser results, which Ceneo said damaged its business," Reuters states.
Ceneo's claim for reimbursement includes 1.72 billion zlotys for alleged losses sustained and an additional 615 million zlotys in interest payments accrued since 2013. The subsidiary also seeks statutory interest on the total 2.33 billion zlotys from the date of the lawsuit until damages are paid.
Ceneo's lawsuit is reportedly connected to a $2.7 billion antitrust fine levied on Google by the European Union for abusing its dominant position in the price comparison shopping service market.
In an emailed statement to Reuters, a Google spokesperson said the company disagrees with the lawsuit and is considering its options.
"Our Shopping remedy has been working successfully for several years and we continue to invest in formats that support brands, retailers and comparison shopping sites of all sizes across Poland and Europe," the statement said.
The US Department of Justice, in a separate effort to curb Google's dominance, has called for the company to divest its Chrome browser and bar it from re-entering the browser market for five years.