Google to face UK class action

The UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled on August 5 that Google must face a collective action brought on behalf of UK advertisers over alleged abuse of dominance in search advertising. The tribunal granted a collective proceedings order to Or Brook Class Representative Limited, allowing the case to proceed on an opt-out basis. The proposed class seeks damages of about £5 billion. Google said it would contest the claim. The case keeps alive one of the larger UK antitrust damages actions aimed at a major technology company. The tribunal said the claim can proceed on behalf of UK-domiciled businesses that bought Google search advertising during the period set out in the case. The allegations span markets linked to mobile operating systems, app distribution, general search services and search advertising. ### Which businesses are included in the case? Or Brook Class Representative Limited asked to represent a class of advertisers in the UK tribunal on an opt-out basis, meaning eligible UK businesses are included unless they exclude themselves. The tribunal’s published judgment says the claim is brought on behalf of advertisers alleging they suffered loss from Google’s conduct. The claimant estimated total damages at around £5 billion. (catribunal.org.uk) The class covers UK businesses that paid for Google search advertising over a period running from January 1, 2011, to April 15, 2025, according to reporting that summarizes the tribunal ruling. Several outlets said the case could encompass about 880,000 businesses. ### What does the claim accuse Google of doing? (catribunal.org.uk) The tribunal said Brook alleges Google abused dominant positions in markets connected with mobile operating systems, app distribution, general search services and search advertising. The judgment says the alleged abuses and alleged harm are substantially similar to those in a related case, Nikki Stopford v Alphabet and Google entities. (ppc.land) Claims Journal, citing Bloomberg, reported that the case alleges Google overcharged businesses for online advertising by abusing its market position. Insurance Journal, also citing Bloomberg, said the tribunal allowed a claim on behalf of hundreds of thousands of British firms to go ahead. ### What did the tribunal decide, and what did it not decide? (catribunal.org.uk) The August 5 ruling was a certification decision, not a judgment on whether Google broke competition law. The tribunal granted certification for the collective action to proceed, which means the claim cleared the threshold to be litigated as a class case in the UK forum. The published judgment is identified as [2026] CAT 65 in case 1720/7/7/25. (claimsjournal.com) The tribunal did not, in that certification ruling, award damages or determine liability. Its decision was to allow the proposed class representative to continue the case on behalf of the class. ### What has Google said in response? Google said the lawsuit is “yet another speculative and opportunistic case,” according to PYMNTS, which reported the company’s response after the tribunal ruling. (catribunal.org.uk) A Google spokesperson added that the company would “argue against it vigorously” and said advertisers use Google because it is helpful, “not because there are no alternatives.” Those comments were published after the tribunal rejected Google’s attempt to block the case at the certification stage. Bloomberg’s report, as reflected in follow-on coverage, said the ruling requires Google to face the class action rather than ending it before trial. ### What happens next in the UK proceedings? The next phase is merits litigation in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, where the parties will contest liability, causation and damages. (pymnts.com) The tribunal’s certification ruling means the class action can move forward under the collective proceedings framework rather than stopping at the authorization stage. (claimsjournal.com) The tribunal’s judgment and case file are published on the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s website under Or Brook Class Representative Limited v Google Inc & Others. Google said it would fight the claim, and the proceedings now continue in that forum. (catribunal.org.uk)