Google failed to end most of the publishers’ ad-tech antitrust litigation before trial, Search Engine Land reported October 1. Judge P. Kevin Castel’s 88-page opinion, issued Sept. 30, rejected Google’s summary-judgment bid on the main claims from Gannett, Daily Mail, and a class of digital publishers, and kept their damages experts in the case.
The split matters. Google won on Gannett and Daily Mail’s New York General Business Law claims, The Progressive’s claims, and Inform’s federal antitrust claims. The AdX publisher class and Mikula Web Solutions can proceed.
Plaintiffs’ experts estimated roughly $901 million for Gannett, $600 million for Daily Mail, and $1.72 billion class-wide through March 31, 2024. These are estimates, not awards, and publishers must still prove the injury and damages tied to the conduct.
This case concerns the publisher ad server and AdX exchange, the systems that monetize site traffic. It is separate from the AI Overviews suits. Teams advising ad-funded publishers should track it as a revenue risk factor, not a payout to model.
Based on reporting by Anu Adegbola for Search Engine Land, published October 1, 2026.
