A federal court found Google liable Thursday for monopolization of the publisher ad server market, monopolization of the ad exchange market and unlawful tying of two programs that connected two sides of the ad tech stack.
“Plaintiffs have proven that Google has willfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts to acquire and maintain monopoly power in the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets for open-web display advertising,” U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia wrote in her memorandum opinion filed Thursday. “In addition to depriving rivals of the ability to compete, this exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Google’s publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web. Accordingly, Google is liable under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.”