Penske Media Corporation has sued Google in federal court in Manhattan, alleging the company illegally monopolises the digital advertising market and has deprived publishers of billions of dollars in revenue.
The case underscores mounting pressure on Google’s ad-tech business as publishers seek damages and structural remedies that could reshape how online advertising works.
According to a report by TheWrap, the complaint alleges Google rigged ad auctions, suppressed prices paid to publishers and excluded competitors by using its control of critical ad-tech components to favour its own exchange. Penske, publisher of The Hollywood Report, Rolling Stone and Variety, and its subsidiary SheMedia are seeking monetary damages and court-ordered changes to Google’s ad-tech operations at a jury trial.
At the centre of the lawsuit is what Penske describes as an inherent conflict of interest created by Google’s ownership of both the dominant publisher ad server and the leading ad exchange. Penske alleges Google allowed its exchange to see rivals’ bids before submitting its own, enabling it to win auctions while keeping prices artificially low.
The complaint says the practice depressed publisher revenues across the open web. SheMedia, which operates an ad network serving about 1,800 websites, says its publishers are particularly exposed because many rely heavily on programmatic advertising.
The suit builds on a broader government offensive against Google. In January 2023, the US Department of Justice and a coalition of state attorneys general accused the company of monopolising multiple ad-tech products through acquisitions, forced adoption and manipulation of auction mechanics, arguing those tactics distorted competition and harmed publishers and rivals.
That challenge gained momentum last year when a federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia, found Google had willfully engaged in anticompetitive conduct and ruled its ad-tech unit an illegal monopoly in open-web display advertising. The case is now in a remedies phase, a process that could influence the relief Penske seeks in Manhattan. R
Penske’s complaint echoes claims made by other publishers and ad-tech firms. Major news groups and independent platforms have previously accused Google of using its market power to squeeze publisher revenues, while ad-tech vendors such as PubMatic have alleged exclusionary conduct that prevented effective competition.
Beyond advertising, Penske has also challenged Google over its use of news content in AI-generated summaries. Forbes has reported that Penske and affiliated publishers say features such as AI Overviews have reduced referral traffic and affiliate revenue by aggregating content without authorisation, a claim Google has disputed.
Google has consistently denied that its ad tools are anticompetitive, arguing they increase efficiency and expand choice for advertisers and publishers.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the lawsuit filed on January 12, 2026, and reported by TheWrap on the same day. ([thewrap.com](https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/public-policy-legal/penske-media-sues-google-digital-ad-market-monopoly/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
No direct quotes are present in the provided text, indicating original content.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
TheWrap is a reputable entertainment industry publication. However, cross-referencing with other reputable sources is recommended for comprehensive verification.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims align with ongoing antitrust actions against Google, including the 2025 federal court ruling in Virginia that found Google unlawfully monopolized key parts of the ad-tech market. ([axios.com](https://www.axios.com/2025/04/17/google-ad-tech-monopoly-antitrust-ruling?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and aligns with recent developments in antitrust actions against Google. The source is reputable, and the content is accessible without paywalls or distinctive content types. No significant issues were identified.
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