Between 2006 and 2016, the bloc claimed that Google had abused its market dominance by preventing competitors from third parties from publishing search ads.
The European Commission that assessed the penalties was found to have “committed errors in its assessment” by the continent’s second highest court.
A prospective appeal to the EU’s highest court is one of the “possible next steps” that the Commission stated it will “reflect on.”
Google applauded the decision: “We are pleased that the court has recognised errors in the original decision and annulled the fine,” it stated in a statement.
“We will review the full decision closely,” it stated.
For the tech giant, which was penalized, it is an uncommon victory.
Its attempt last week to have one of those fines reversed was unsuccessful.
Its extremely profitable ad tech company is putting pressure on it, and not only in Europe.
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) concluded earlier this month that it employed anti-competitive tactics to control the market.
Prosecutors claim Alphabet, the company’s parent, is operating an illegal monopoly in the market, and they are suing the internet giant for the same offense.
Alphabet has maintained that its goods’ efficacy is the reason for its market domination.
