A federal judge limited remedies in the landmark antitrust case against Google, ruling that Chrome need not be divested and that Android will not face contingent divestiture. The court found that plaintiffs overreached in seeking forced divestiture of those assets and said Google did not use them to effect illegal restraints. The judge allowed Google to make payments to preload products but barred exclusive contracts. Parties were ordered to meet by September 10 for the final judgment. The original D.C. ruling in August 2024 found Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.
Alphabet shares popped 8% in extended trading as investors celebrated what they viewed as minimal consequences from a historic defeat last year in the landmark antitrust case that found it held an illegal monopoly in its core market of internet search. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled against the most severe consequences that were proposed by the Department of Justice, including selling off its Chrome browser, which provides data that helps its advertising business deliver targeted ads.
"Google will not be required to divest Chrome; nor will the court include a contingent divestiture of the Android operating system in the final judgment," the decision stated. "Plaintiffs overreached in seeking forced divestiture of these key assets, which Google did not use to effect any illegal restraints." Mehta, who oversaw the remedies trial in May, ordered the parties to meet by September 10th for the final judgment. In August 2024, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act and held a monopoly in search and text advertising. The antitrust trial started in September 2023.
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