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Paris Court Orders Google to Pay €26.5 Million to Equativ in Advertising Dispute

By  |  October 27, 2024

The Paris Commercial Court mandated Google to pay €26.5 million to French advertising firm Equativ. The judgment stems from a lawsuit filed in 2022, where Equativ accused the tech giant of leveraging its own advertising tools to gain an unfair competitive edge, thereby inflicting financial harm on the French company, which also operates in the online advertising sector.

According to Euroactive, the court’s decision is influenced by a prior €220 million penalty imposed on Google by the French Competition Authority in 2021. This earlier ruling had already established that Google engaged in anti-competitive behavior within the digital advertising market. Equativ initially sought €369.1 million in damages on an international scale, but the court’s ruling confined the compensation to losses incurred in France, significantly reducing the potential payout.

Read more: Google Agrees to Provide AI-Related Documents in Monopoly Case

In response to the court’s verdict, Google expressed its dissatisfaction, pointing to what it termed “misinterpretations” of the advertising technology landscape. The company reiterated its commitment to addressing concerns raised by the Competition Authority. As of now, Google has not indicated whether it plans to appeal the ruling.

Meanwhile, Equativ has opted not to comment on the outcome of the case. The dispute underscores the increasing scrutiny by French regulators of the practices of major digital companies, highlighting ongoing concerns about competition within the online advertising arena.

Source: Euroactive

University of Kentucky Eyes Structural Shift Amid Antitrust Pressures University of Kentucky Eyes Structural Shift Amid Antitrust Pressures

University of Kentucky Eyes Structural Shift Amid Antitrust Pressures

By  |  April 24, 2025

The University of Kentucky is advancing plans to restructure its athletics department under a newly formed corporate entity, Champions Blue LLC. The proposed change is intended to give the university greater flexibility in navigating the escalating costs tied to a potential settlement of multiple athlete-compensation lawsuits.

According to a statement from university officials, the creation of Champions Blue LLC reflects a strategic adaptation to the mounting legal and financial challenges facing collegiate athletic programs. These challenges stem from three consolidated antitrust cases targeting the NCAA and the Power Five conferences over restrictions on athlete compensation. The litigation could result in substantial financial obligations for universities if a settlement is reached.

Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart and executive vice president for finance and administration Eric Monday said Champions Blue LLC is designed within the framework of how the university currently structures its healthcare services. Per a statement from the university, this approach offers a tested model that could help streamline operations and increase financial agility.

While it remains unclear whether Kentucky’s move will be a first among major collegiate athletic programs, university officials emphasized that the new structure aligns with existing internal models for other large-scale operations. The implementation of Champions Blue LLC remains contingent on approval from the university’s board of trustees. The board’s athletics committee convened on April 24, with the full board scheduled to vote on the measure on April 25.

The timing of this development is particularly notable given Kentucky’s significant athletic budget. The university reported nearly $202 million in operating revenue and close to $197 million in expenses for the 2023–24 fiscal year, per its annual financial submission to the NCAA. These figures place the Wildcats among the top 15 public universities in both categories, according to data compiled by USA TODAY Sports and the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database at Syracuse University.

Source: USA Today