Alphabet (GOOGL, Financials), Google's parent firm, is facing a mounting wave of private lawsuits after European regulators slapped the corporation with a record $1 billion fine under the Digital Markets Act.
The penalty concluded that Google prioritized its own services and prohibited app developers from providing customers to cheaper payment options outside of Google Play.
Lawyers and lawsuit funders say the ruling might spur additional rivals to seek damages, with total claims potentially approaching $10 billion.
Several cases are already under process. In November a Berlin court granted German comparison-shopping platform Idealo 465 million. Italy's Moltiply Group is demanding 2.97 billion and litigation groups in Amsterdam are seeking more than $1 billion altogether.
Klarna-backed PriceRunner also secured a ruling of around $1.97 billion plus interest, but appeals could delay payment for years.
Google dismissed the charges as baseless, accusing rivals of chasing money instead of enhancing their goods. The legal pressure adds to roughly 10.4 billion euros ($11.5 billion) in EU-led sanctions slapped on Google in the past decade. The latest verdict raises Alphabet's long-term legal costs, and investors will be watching appeals and fresh filings.