Federal Judge Rules Google Violated Antitrust Laws to Maintain Search Monopoly

• A federal judge has ruled that Google violated antitrust laws to maintain its monopoly in the online search market, marking a significant event for the tech industry.
• Judge Amit P. Mehta stated that Google abused its dominant position to stay on top, comparing the case to the landmark Microsoft antitrust ruling of the 1990s.
• The ruling demonstrates that current U.S. antitrust laws can be effectively applied to digital companies, focusing on factors beyond customer pricing.
• The decision is about liability, not remedies, leaving uncertainty about what actions Google will need to take next.
• The ruling stems from a 2020 lawsuit by the DOJ and several states, accusing Google of illegal dominance through contracts with Apple and Mozilla, and it paves the way for further antitrust actions against Big Tech.

Source: Axios