A New York federal judge ruled Wednesday in favor of Gannett and other online publishers, finding that Google illegally monopolized digital advertising technology and diverted revenue from news organizations.
U.S. District Court Judge P. Kevin Castel granted partial summary judgment for Gannett, which owns USA TODAY, the Daily Mail, and digital media firm Inform, along with a proposed class of smaller publishers. The ruling holds Google liable for controlling the ad placement technology used to buy and sell ads across the internet.
The decision builds on findings from a separate U.S. Justice Department antitrust trial, where Judge Leonie Brinkema concluded that Google’s practices harmed publishers, competition, and consumers by limiting rivals and manipulating the digital ad market.
“This is a significant legal win for Gannett and a good day for competition,” said Gannett CEO Mike Reed, calling the ruling a major step in the broader antitrust fight against Google.
While the ruling establishes Google’s liability, Gannett and other plaintiffs must still prove the damages caused by Google’s practices and provide fair estimates. Experts note that the trial will be shorter since key issues have already been settled against Google.
Google did not respond to requests for comment, but previously argued that publishers choose to use its tools and retain most of the revenue. Critics maintain that mandatory reliance on Google reduces payouts for news organizations.
Industry analysts caution that, even with potential damages, newspapers will continue facing challenges in a digital environment where consumers must pay for quality journalism and ad-supported models struggle.
