09:17 AM EST, 11/29/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Meta Platforms' ( META ) Ireland unit will face a trial in October next year in Spain against 87 media publishing companies accusing it of unfair competition in advertising, a Madrid court said Friday in a preliminary hearing.

The media companies, represented by the Association of Information Media, sued Meta alleging that the technology giant infringed EU rules on data protection to gain a competitive edge in advertising, the 15th Madrid commercial court said.

Meta denied this infringement claim, according to the court.

The lawsuit is claiming about 551.3 million euros ($582.1 million) from Facebook's owner, which is the amount plaintiffs lost in advertising revenue, the court said. The trial will take place on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, 2025.

Meta did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.