Google Plans to Challenge US Court Decision Declaring Its Search Practices as an Illegal Monopoly

Google Challenges Major Antitrust Ruling

Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has initiated an appeal against a significant antitrust verdict that found the company guilty of unlawfully dominating the online search and advertising sectors. This legal move is anticipated to postpone any immediate changes to Google’s business operations.

The appeal was submitted on Friday in a federal court in Washington, accompanied by a request to suspend the enforcement of the previous court’s decision while the appeal is under review. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals, which frequently handles cases involving the federal government, is expected to consider the matter later this year. On average, the court takes about a year to deliver a decision after an appeal is filed, according to data from the US Courts.

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The original lawsuit was brought in 2020 during the Trump administration, with the trial taking place in the autumn of 2023.

In August 2024, US District Judge Amit Mehta determined that Google had maintained its dominance in the search market by securing agreements with Apple and other smartphone manufacturers, such as Samsung, to make Google’s search engine the default option. These contracts, for which Google pays over $20 billion each year, were found to have prevented competitors from accessing vital distribution channels.

Following a second trial in spring 2025, Judge Mehta declined the Justice Department’s request to force Google to sell its widely used Chrome browser. Instead, he ruled that Google could continue paying to have its search engine and AI applications set as defaults, but required that these agreements be opened for competitive bidding annually to give other companies a fair chance.

Investors responded positively to the court’s remedy, with Google’s share price climbing 56% since the September ruling, as the company is seen as strengthening its position in artificial intelligence.

Reporting assistance by Josh Sisco.

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