court, but only on points of law, not the facts.
Google hasn’t decided whether to do so, saying
it will closely review the decision.
The case began after the European Commission
received a complaint in 2009. It dragged on
as fruitless attempts to negotiate a settlement
delayed the final decision, drawing criticism that
the commission wasn’t acting fast enough to
stop Google from cornering online markets.
That’s something the European Commission
is trying to address with its new digital rules,
which aim to prevent bad behavior, rather than
punishing past actions as it has previously done.
It also has started using “interim measures” as
a speedy way to halt anticompetitive behavior
while investigations are carried out.
The commission welcomed the court’s
new ruling.
“The judgment today delivers a clear message
that Google’s conduct was unlawful and it
provides the necessary legal clarity for the
market,” spokesperson Arianna Podesta said in a
press briefing in Brussels.