Google to pay $20.5 million to settle lawsuit with ad-tech rivals

Google agreed to pay $20.5 million to settle an antitrust lawsuit brought against the company by two ad-tech rivals, the companies said Wednesday.<br><br>The lawsuit, filed in April 2022 by ad-tech companies Danskespil and Cavai, alleged that Google abused its dominance in the ad-tech market by restricting access to its ad exchange, which the companies said forced them to use more expensive alternatives.<br><br>Under the agreement, the ad-tech companies dropped their claims and Google said it would provide them access to its ad exchange in Europe. The companies also agreed not to compete with Google on ad-tech business the next five years.<br><br>Danskespil and Cavai, based in Denmark and Norway, respectively, went into liquidation after filing the lawsuit.<br><br>"Throughout the litigation, Google maintained that the case was without merit," a spokesperson for the company said in a statement. "We're pleased to have resolved the matter."<br><br>The settlement marks a rare defeat for Google in its long-running battle against regulators and rivals who say the company abused its dominance in the ad-tech market. In June, a U.S. judge rejected a settlement that would have allowed Google to pay $1.8 billion to settle claims of its abuse of the ad-tech market.