Federal judge rules Google violated antitrust law

A federal judge ruled that Google maintained an ******* monopoly in search and advertising markets, marking a significant victory for the Department of Justice.

Why it matters. This is the first major decision in a wave of tech monopoly cases brought by the U.S. government in recent years, potentially setting a precedent for future rulings against other tech giants.

Key details:

• Judge Amit Mehta found Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which prohibits monpolies
• The court focused on Google’s exclusive search deals with Android and Apple devices as key to its anticompetitive behaviour.
• The ruling focuses on Google’s liability, not remedies
• Decision comes after a 10-week trial last fall

Why we care. While immediate changes are unlikely, advertisers should start preparing for potential long-term impacts on their digital marketing strategies.

Between the lines. The case revealed Google pays Apple $20 billion annually for default search status on iPhones.

The big picture. This ruling could influence how century-old antitrust laws are applied to modern digital markets in pending cases against Amazon, Apple, and Meta.

What’s next:

• Remedies to address Google’s monopoly will be determined in future proceedings
• Google faces another DOJ trial over its ad tech business, starting September 9th

What they’re saying. “Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly,” Judge Mehta wrote in his decision.

The bottom line. While a major setback for Google, the full impact on its business practices remains to be seen as the case moves to the remedies phase.