Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Roku, Google, YouTube TV Antitrust Claims Overview:
- Who: Roku and Google are attempting to negotiate a contract renewal for YouTube TV.
- Why: The tech giants have reached an impasse that could result in YouTube TV being pulled from Roku for all new users on Dec. 9.
- Where: United States
Roku Inc is accusing Google of antitrust activity after a breakdown in contract negotiations over the streaming service’s ability to carry YouTube TV could see the app removed from the platform for good.
In an Oct. 21 blog post, streaming service Roku says it has two primary concerns that it is trying to work through in contract negotiations with the search engine.
“First, Google continues to interfere with Roku’s independent search results, requiring that we preference YouTube over other content providers,” the streaming platform writes.
“This is a concern shared by many companies who believe that customers deserve neutral and relevant results to their search queries.”
Secondly, Roku says that Google discriminates against Roku by demanding search, voice, and data features that they do not insist on from other streaming platforms.
Roku Accuses Google of ‘Retaliation,’ ‘Monopoly’ in YouTube Deal Breakdown
Roku claims in the post that after raising concerns about Google’s alleged anticompetitive conduct, the tech giant, through “blatant retaliation and monopoly conduct,” threatened to pull YouTube on the Roku platform for all new users on Dec. 9.
Roku wrote that the monopoly conduct, “is likely why the U.S. Department of Justice and 30 State Attorneys General are investigating Google for violating fair competition laws.”
“Google’s actions are designed to stifle competition and harm consumers which is why there is broad bipartisan support in Congress today to rein in monopoly abuses.”
However, Google has denied Roku’s claims, telling Law360 that Roku’s claims were “baseless” and the platform was not negotiating in good faith.
“Since we haven’t been able to continue our conversations in good faith, our partnership for all new Roku devices will unfortunately end on Dec. 9. We are, however, giving Roku the ability to continue distributing both YouTube and YouTube TV apps to all existing users to make sure they are not impacted.”
The fight has also attracted political commentary, with Senators jumping into the argument to push their Big Tech antitrust legislation.
Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar said in a statement that Google’s demands on Roku to rank content in its favor “highlights why we need new laws to prevent dominant digital platforms from abusing their power as gatekeepers.”
“For too long, the Big Tech platforms have leveraged their power to preference their products and services over those of thousands of smaller online businesses,” Klobuchar said. “They have said ‘just trust us,’ but experience has shown that we can’t rely on these companies to act fairly in the marketplace.”
Klobuchar is one of a group of senators who has introduced the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, which would target concerns like the ones raised by Roku, Law360 reports.
On top of facing antitrust investigations by federal and state departments, Google has also been the subject of countless lawsuits over alleged monopolist behavior. Just this week, the tech giant was hit with a lawsuit filed by more than half a dozen states alleging that Google has secured a digital ad monopoly that overcharges ad publishers at up to four times more than its competitors.
Are you concerned about big tech and anticompetitive activity? Stay on top of the issues with Top Class Actions’ free weekly newsletter!
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
- Google Docs, Exposed in Antitrust Lawsuit, Reveal Tech Giant’s Upcharges
- Google May See End to Play Store Loot Boxes Class Action Lawsuit
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Wants More Info on Facebook, Amazon and Google’s Payment-related Systems and Products
- Google Chrome Users Ask Judge to Certify Class Action Claiming Google Illegally Collects Browser Data
215 thoughts onRoku Could Lose YouTube TV, Accuses Google of Retaliation, Stifling Competition
I get calls constantly 400 + a day from all over the world and I’m sick n tired of it
I’m definitely interested in all of the information that you can possibly send to me concerning what you do here. Thank you in advance.