Judge Rules Google Can Continue Paying Mozilla, Apple Under Antitrust Limits

In the landmark antitrust case against Google, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta ruled that while Google engaged in monopolistic behavior, it will not be forced to break up or sell key assets like its Chrome browser or Android operating system. The ruling prohibits Google from entering into exclusive contracts to be the default search engine but allows it to continue paying companies, including Mozilla and Apple, for default search placements under non-exclusive agreements. This decision preserves Mozilla's vital financial lifeline, which depends on Google's search deal for over 85% of its revenue, and enables Apple to keep receiving billions annually from Google for Safari's default search engine status. The judge also mandated Google to share its search index and user interaction data with competitors and offer search syndication services for five years to foster competition. These measures aim to curb Google's dominance in search and AI markets without causing substantial harm to partners and consumers. The ruling is seen as a significant win for Google and Apple, easing investor concerns while imposing new restrictions to encourage fairer competition in online search and emerging AI technologies.