Australia fires publisher damages claim at Google

Lawyers move on a class action to refund thousands of publishers who lost out as the search giant built a $10 billion programmatic stranglehold...

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A class action investigation has begun in Australia seeking hundreds of millions in damages from Google for anticompetitive behaviour towards publishers.

It mirrors the $8 billion action brought by publishers in Canada, which I revealed last month, and others getting underway in the UK and US.

The details of the action were revealed on the MI3 podcast this morning, where I was joined by those bringing the actions in Canada and their lawyers. It’s quite a scoop.

The Australian case is being pulled together by leading law firm Maurice Blackburn and seeks to refund publishers for ad revenues lost to Google going back six years.

Over that time, it alleges that publishers lost substantial revenue to Google on programmatic ad transactions totalling ~$10 billion.   

A website went live just hours ago where publishers can learn more. Publishers can also ring 1800 298 602 or email GoogleAdTech@mauriceblackburn.com.au

Go for it.

The suit comes after Google’s anticompetitive practices have be…