US judge rules Google’s search monopoly violated antitrust laws
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The news: A US federal judge ruled Google engaged in illegal practices to maintain its search engine monopoly in a landmark antitrust decision marking a big victory for the Justice Department against the tech giant.
The numbers: US District Judge Amit Mehta said in a 277-page ruling that Google, which dominates global internet searches with a 90% share, used its market power to suppress competition by paying billions to secure exclusive contracts with web browsers and phone manufacturers. That violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act and allowed Google to dominate the search advertising market.
The context: The case is the biggest tech antitrust case since the US government's antitrust showdown with Microsoft at the turn of the millennium. The ruling is likely to be appealed but could lead to changes in how Google operates and may impact its future deals and overall market strategy.
The sources: The New York Times , CNN
