In a landmark antitrust case, Google and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) are set to present their closing arguments after a five-month hiatus. The trial, which began in October 2020, centers around allegations that Google has illegally monopolized the online search market through multibillion-dollar deals with partners like Apple and Samsung.
According to court documents unsealed ahead of the closing arguments, Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, paid Apple $20 billion in 2022 for Google to be the default search engine in Safari browser. This deal is significant as it sets the search engine for the most used smartphone in the US.
Google argues that these deals are aimed at creating a better user experience, while the DOJ contends that they are anticompetitive practices meant to protect Google's monopoly. The trial has been closely watched as it could set a precedent for other antitrust cases against companies like Amazon, Apple, and Meta.
Judge Amit P. Mehta, who presided over the trial, is known for being smart, careful, hardworking, and a voracious learner. He has limited antitrust rulings but his conduct suggests that whatever he decides in U.S. et al. v. Google will most likely be difficult to overrule on appeal.
Google spent a total of $26.3 billion in 2021 to secure its position as a default search engine on mobile phones and web browsers, according to various sources.
The trial began in October 2020 and the closing arguments are scheduled for May 2024. The judge is expected to issue a ruling later this year.
