"However, it's losing its exclusivity contracts, which will likely be a major loss of revenue for other companies and may make Chrome less ubiquitous. Driving the news: Federal District Judge Amit Mehta issued the ruling after finding that Google violated antitrust law to obtain a monopolyin the online search market last year."
"The big picture: The judge had the opportunity to transform the tech ecosystem, forcing a rebalancing of market power in web search at a time when AI is fundamentally changing how people look things up online. That didn't happen. Spinning off Chrome would have had major ramifications for Google's business both in search and AI, and interested buyers were lining up."
"Google can still pay partners for placement and preloading of Google apps, despite exclusivity being banned. What they're saying: "Plaintiffs overreached in seeking forced divesture of these key assets, which Google did not use to effect any illegal restraints," the ruling states."
Federal District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google violated antitrust law to obtain a monopoly in the online search market and banned exclusivity contracts. The ban will likely reduce revenue for partner companies and could make Chrome less ubiquitous by removing guaranteed placements on devices. Google retains the ability to pay partners for placement and preloading of Google apps. Spinning off Chrome was considered but not ordered, a move that would have affected Google's search and AI businesses and attracted potential buyers. Google plans to appeal, which could eventually bring the case to the Supreme Court.
Read at Axios
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