Link: Judge rules that Google ‘is a monopolist’ in US antitrust case

A U.S. federal judge has determined that Google breached U.S. antitrust law by monopolizing search and advertising markets. Judge Amit Mehta's decision not only ruled Google in breach of Section 2 of the Sherman Act but also embodied a crucial victory for the Department of Justice, which had accused Google of unlawfully monopolizing the online search market.

Mehta noted that Google's actions disincentivized competitors such as Apple from launching their search engines, thereby perpetuating its monopoly. However, he disagreed with some government arguments, notably denying Google's monopoly power claims in certain aspects of the ads market. He concluded Google's primary monopolies resided in "general search services" and "general search text advertising."

The ruling marked the first trial in a string of tech monopoly lawsuits lodged by the U.S. government, including against Amazon, Apple, and Meta. The next phase of proceedings will determine the consequences for Google’s business, potentially resulting in anything from business practice adjustments to the dissolution of Google’s search business.

The court’s verdict could significantly influence how judges might apply longstanding antitrust laws to modern digital markets. Google plans to appeal the ruling, with its global affairs president, Kent Walker, stating that although the verdict acknowledged Google as the best search engine, it suggested their product shouldn't be easily accessible. #

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