Google and Apple’s $20 billion search deal survives
Google will be able to keep making search deals like its $20 billion agreement to be the default option in Apple’s Safari browser, a federal district court judge ruled in the US v. Google antitrust case on Tuesday. Executives from both Apple and Firefox-made Mozilla have defended their search deals with Google, with Mozilla’s CFO testifying that Firefox might be doomed without the deal in place.
“Google will not be barred from making payments or offering other consideration to distribution partners for preloading or placement of Google Search, Chrome, or its GenAI products,” Judge Amit Mehta wrote. “Cutting off payments from Google almost certainly will impose substantial—in some cases, crippling—downstream harms to distribution partners, related markets, and consumers, which counsels against a broad payment ban,” Mehta said.
Google also won’t have to show choice screens on its products, according to the ruling. The determinations were made as part of a broader remedies ruling that does not force Google to divest Chrome or Android, which the Justice Department had wanted. Google will, however, have to share some search data with competitors.
Last year, Judge Mehta ruled that Google was a monopolist in the search and advertising markets, and this new ruling followed a remedies trial. Google plans to appeal.
Google will be able to keep making search deals like its $20 billion agreement to be the default option in Apple’s Safari browser, a federal district court judge ruled in the US v. Google antitrust case on Tuesday. Executives from both Apple and Firefox-made Mozilla have defended their search deals…
Recent Posts
- You don’t need to spend a fortune on good audio — these 20 headphones under AU$100 have hundreds of 5-star user reviews
- Nintendo confirms it will sell a new Switch 2 with replaceable battery in the EU
- Apple begins requiring age verification for App Store use in Texas
- The co-creator of Scavengers Reign is working on a new show for Netflix
- Apple is bringing age verification to Texas this week
Archives
- June 2026
- May 2026
- April 2026
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023