Alphabet is facing a growing wave of legal claims in Europe after its first fine under the Digital Markets Act opened the door to private damage lawsuits. The $1 billion DMA penalty, issued for favouring its own services and restricting app developers from directing users to cheaper alternatives outside Google Play, has given rivals fresh legal ammunition.

The cases matter because the DMA was designed not just to punish conduct, but to make it easier for competitors and customers to challenge alleged gatekeeper practices through courts as well as regulators. Lawyers and litigation financiers say cases have already been filed in at least six countries, with more being prepared. The total damages being sought could reach $10 billion.

The DMA fine adds to more than €10.4 billion in EU-led penalties Google has absorbed over the past decade. Last month, Google also lost a long-running fight against a €4.1 billion fine tied to its Android operating system.

Alphabet stock opened at $326.57 on Tuesday. The 50-day moving average is $359.30, and the stock’s 52-week range is $188.70 to $404.47.

Court Rulings Already Going Against Google

A Berlin court awarded German price comparison site Idealo €465 million in November, marking the largest antitrust damages award ever handed down by a German court. In Sweden, a Stockholm court ordered Google to pay roughly $1.97 billion including interest to PriceRunner, a case backed by Klarna.

Italy’s Moltiply Group is seeking €2.97 billion. UK-based Kelkoo says the DMA ruling strengthens its ongoing claims. Litigation funder LitFin is backing two groups in Amsterdam seeking more than $1 billion combined.

Klarna’s counsel Pontus Scherp said that even with the Stockholm ruling, collection is not imminent. “We can expect an appeal to take over a year, and likely years,” he said.

Google says the claims have no merit. “We strongly disagree with these lawsuits, which are brought by companies looking for a payout instead of investing in their own products,” a spokesperson said.

Strong Earnings Do Not Offset Legal Headwinds

Despite the legal pressure, Alphabet reported strong second-quarter results. The company posted earnings per share of $9.11, compared with a consensus estimate of $2.87, while revenue rose 24.2% year over year to $119.80 billion, above the $116.53 billion estimate. Net margin stood at 54.77%.

Alphabet also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share, payable September 14.

Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive. Wells Fargo rates the stock “overweight” with a $411 target. JPMorgan maintained an “overweight” rating and a $420 target. Barclays raised its target from $405 to $425. The consensus target across 39 analysts is $410.09, with 36 rated Buy or Strong Buy.

LitFin COO Matej Pardo called fines “a cost of doing business” for Google and said resolution could take as long as eight years. In the PriceRunner case, nearly two decades passed between the alleged abuses beginning and Google exhausting its appeals in the shopping dispute.