The Irish Ministry of Justice has ordered Citibank to transfer the balance of Google Ireland’s account and block the €76 million it owes to the Belgian start-up Proxistore, according to the start-up's CEO Bruno Van Boucq.
Google was recently condemned to pay €76 million to Proxistore for unilaterally blocking several advertising campaigns of the Walloon-Brabant-based company for approximately 76 hours. The commercial court in Walloon-Brabant seized the amount from the bank account in Ireland, where Google Europe's headquarters are located.
Proxistore's lawyers sent the seizure order to the Irish Ministry of Justice requesting the amount be blocked in the account of Google Ireland Limited, but they received no response.
On Thursday, Proxistore learnt that the Irish Ministry has asked Citibank to block the €76 million.
If the account balance is insufficient, the account will remain blocked until the amount is fulfilled. Google has 14 days to file an objection.
"This is a very important step in the procedure. It changes the balance of power," said Van Boucq.
