The Tech Entrepreneurs Who Challenged Google
Shivaun and Adam Raff's Legal Battle Led to a Landmark EU Fine Against Google
In 2006, Shivaun and Adam Raff launched Foundem, a pioneering price comparison website, only for it to be buried in Google's search results due to an automated penalty.
This marked the beginning of a 15-year legal struggle against Google, which culminated in a €2.4 billion fine in 2017 for abusing its market dominance to favor its own services.
The European Court of Justice sustained this record fine in September 2023, rejecting Google's appeal.
The case has become a significant precedent in the regulation of Big Tech, highlighting ongoing concerns about anti-competitive practices.
The Raffs' battle began in Brussels, where they presented their case to the European Commission, leading to a broad investigation into Google's conduct.
Despite the victory, Foundem shut down in 2016, and the couple continues to seek civil damages.
Their challenge emphasized the reliance of online businesses on Google and the potential repercussions of its search algorithms.
This marked the beginning of a 15-year legal struggle against Google, which culminated in a €2.4 billion fine in 2017 for abusing its market dominance to favor its own services.
The European Court of Justice sustained this record fine in September 2023, rejecting Google's appeal.
The case has become a significant precedent in the regulation of Big Tech, highlighting ongoing concerns about anti-competitive practices.
The Raffs' battle began in Brussels, where they presented their case to the European Commission, leading to a broad investigation into Google's conduct.
Despite the victory, Foundem shut down in 2016, and the couple continues to seek civil damages.
Their challenge emphasized the reliance of online businesses on Google and the potential repercussions of its search algorithms.
