From PYMNTS.com, August 6:
Day one of the post-Google antitrust ruling era kicked off with a reaction from the defendant in the case and a slew of “what ifs” about the implications of the decision for the connected economy.
“This decision recognizes that Google offers the best search engine but concludes that we shouldn’t be allowed to make it easily available,” said Google global affairs President Kent Walker in a statement sent to PYMNTS.
“We appreciate the Court’s finding that Google is ‘the industry’s highest quality search engine, which has earned Google the trust of hundreds of millions of daily users,’ that Google ‘has long been the best search engine, particularly on mobile devices,’ ‘has continued to innovate in search’ and that ‘Apple and Mozilla occasionally assess Google’s search quality relative to its rivals and find Google’s to be superior.’ Given this, and that people are increasingly looking for information in more and more ways, we plan to appeal. As this process continues, we will remain focused on making products that people find helpful and easy to use.”
Walker’s comments address some of the findings issued Monday (Aug. 5) by U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta, who found that Google illegally maintained monopolies in the markets for general search services and general search text advertising through its exclusive distribution agreements.
After a nine-week bench trial that concluded in November 2023, Mehta ruled that Google’s distribution agreements with mobile device manufacturers, wireless carriers, and web browser developers foreclosed rivals from key distribution channels and allowed Google to unlawfully maintain its monopoly power. Mehta’s ruling did not recommend remedies for what he called Google’s monopolistic practices, and the reality is that the appeal could stretch deep into 2025 and maybe beyond.
All of which left industry pundits and legal analysts to discuss the implications of the decision on search and the extent of the partnerships that drive the connected economy. For example, Apple Magazine speculated that Apple might develop its own search engine.
“Google may need to explore new avenues to maintain its search dominance, while Apple might consider developing its own search capabilities or forging partnerships with alternative providers,” its editors wrote....
....MUCH MORE
If interested see also yesterday's ""Google loses antitrust trial in major blow to tech giant" (GOOG)" which included the Judge's ruling.
