Google Broke Antitrust Law With Search Monopoly, Federal Judge Rules

Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google collapsed antitrust law, a U.S. national judge ruled Monday, saying that Google Search held an forbidden monopoly.

Judge Amit Mehta ruled successful favour of nan Department of Justice (DOJ) successful a suit first revenge successful 2020, uncovering that Google violated nan Sherman Act by "maintaining its monopoly successful 2 merchandise markets successful nan United States—general hunt services and wide matter advertising—through its exclusive distribution agreements."

Through distribution agreements, Google Search is nan default hunt motor successful browsers for illustration Apple's (AAPL) Safari.

What Does nan Ruling Mean for Google and Search Competitors?

The judge's determination finds Google blameworthy of violating antitrust law, but has not yet wished punitive action.

The U.S. authorities could determine to return action to curb Google's power complete nan hunt marketplace aliases break up nan business, which whitethorn use Google Search competitors for illustration Microsoft's (MSFT) Bing aliases OpenAI's precocious announced SearchGPT.

Decision Marks Win for DOJ successful Big Tech Antitrust Cases

The determination marks a awesome triumph for nan DOJ arsenic nan U.S. authorities attempts to rein successful large tech companies complete breaches of antitrust rules.

The news comes amid reports that Nvidia (NVDA) is facing DOJ antitrust investigations and nan Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating Microsoft for imaginable violations arsenic well.

Apple is besides nether DOJ investigation for perchance breaking antitrust laws pinch a smartphone marketplace monopoly.

Shares of Google genitor Alphabet fell 4.5% to $159.25 Monday aft nan judge's ruling amid a global sell-off, though moreover pinch Monday's losses, shares person gained 14% since nan commencement of nan year.