Ohio AG Asks State Court to Declare Google a Utility

Treat Google as a public utility, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) said Tuesday, asking Ohio Common Pleas Court in Delaware County to declare that in a lawsuit. Yost is one of 38 AGs in a separate federal antitrust case (see 2012170063). The new complaint “accepts Google’s dominance of internet search as a fact (be it good or bad),” and “is narrowly focused on establishing that Google’s provision of internet search is properly classified as a common carrier and/or public utility,” it said. Ohio is “entitled to declaratory relief that" the platform "cannot self-preference on its Results Pages.” It seeks “injunctive relief that ends Google’s self-preferencing in Ohio by providing access to enhanced features on Results Pages that Google affords to its other business lines.” The American Economic Liberties Project applauded. The platform didn’t comment.