Gannett sues Google over alleged advertising monopoly
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News publishing giant Gannett (NYSE:GCI) has sued Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL), alleging that the search giant's advertising dominance is dragging the already-struggling local news industry. 
Gannett (GCI) claimed that Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) violated antitrust and consumer protection laws, according to a complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan. 
"As a result of Google's (GOOG) (GOOGL) unlawful conduct, Gannett (GCI) has suffered, and continues to suffer, monetary harm in an amount to be proved at trial," the media conglomerate alleged in the complaint.
It claimed that the search engine's control over tools for buying and selling online ads compelled publishers to sell ad space at lower prices to the Alphabet-owned company.
"Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) has monopolized market trading to their advantage and at the expense of publishers, readers and everyone else," said Gannett (GCI) CEO Michael Reed in a statement. "Without free and fair competition for digital ad space, publishers cannot invest in their newsrooms."
The complaint mirrored arguments made by the European Commission, which has threatened the breakup of Google's (GOOG) (GOOGL) ad tech business, and the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed a second lawsuit against the tech giant.
Dan Taylor, Google Ads vice president, said Gannett's (GCI) claims are false. "Publishers have many options to choose from when it comes to using ad tech to monetize," he said, adding that Google's (GOOG) (GOOGL) ad services allow publishers to keep most of the revenue.
More on Google's antitrust woes:

Google's ad-tech antitrust suit headed for federal court next March
European regulator threatens breakup of Google's ad-tech business
Google's core display, video likely 'unaffected' by ad tech concerns: Citi
Google: Why I Am Not Adding More To My Portfolio
Google's Fragility Exposed By EU Antitrust Charges