Business · Companies · 4 hrs ago
Canadian court allows class action against Apple over Google search deal
A British Columbia court has allowed a class action against Apple to proceed over its search agreement with Google.
The case was brought by Spark Event Rentals, a British Columbia company, and concerns a deal dating to 2005 that made Google the default search engine on Apple products in exchange for a share of advertising revenue.
The plaintiff alleges that Google’s payments discouraged Apple from building a competing search engine, helping Google dominate search and charge advertisers inflated prices.
Apple says its agreement with Google was a legitimate distribution deal and that Google, not Apple, was the appropriate defendant.
Google was originally named in the case but was later dropped after a dispute over an arbitration clause in its advertising contracts.
The case covers Canadian residents who bought Google search ads since 2005 and seeks compensation for advertisers and possible punitive damages.
The judge’s decision allows the allegations to proceed but does not establish wrongdoing by Apple.
No trial date has been set.
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has certified a class action against Apple over its search agreement with Google.
The lawsuit alleges the agreement limited competition and allowed Google to charge advertisers artificially high prices.
The case was brought by Spark Event Rentals Ltd. in 2021, and Google was later dropped as a defendant after an arbitration dispute.
The class covers Canadian residents who bought Google search ads since 2005.
The ruling allows the allegations to proceed but does not establish that Apple acted unlawfully.
- Who
- Spark Event Rentals Ltd. brought the case against Apple. The class includes Canadian residents who bought Google search ads.
- What
- A judge certified a class action over allegations that Apple’s agreement with Google stifled search competition and inflated advertising prices.
- When
- The case was brought in 2021. The agreement at issue dates to 2005.
- Where
- British Columbia, Canada.
- Why
- The plaintiff alleges that Google’s payments discouraged Apple from developing a search engine, helping Google gain market power and charge higher prices for search ads.
Spark Event Rentals Ltd. and class members
Apple
Agreement
Spark Event Rentals Ltd. and class members
The plaintiff alleges Apple and Google conspired to limit search competition.
Apple
Apple says its agreement with Google was a legitimate distribution arrangement, not an unlawful conspiracy.
Responsibility
Spark Event Rentals Ltd. and class members
The plaintiff argues that Apple’s decision not to develop a search engine helped Google gain market power and charge inflated ad prices.
Apple
Apple described itself as an “innocent bystander” and argued Google was the appropriate defendant.
Apple and Google agreed to make Google the default search engine on Safari in exchange for a share of advertising revenue.
Spark Event Rentals Ltd. brought the class action.
A US federal judge ruled that Google had illegally maintained its online search monopoly through anticompetitive agreements, including its deal with Apple.
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge certified the class action against Apple.
- Plaintiff
- Spark Event Rentals Ltd.
- Court
- British Columbia Supreme Court
- Defendant
- Apple; Google was later dropped from the case.
- Agreement began
- 2005
- Class
- Canadian residents who purchased Google search ads since 2005
- Relief sought
- Financial compensation and punitive damages
2 sources
What people are saying
innocent bystander