Federal judge reduces the scope of antitrust case against Google before trial.

Google receives partial reprieve in antitrust case

Federal Judge Amit Mehta has ruled in favor of Google in one of the antitrust cases brought against the company. The ruling states that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and key states cannot claim that Google is maintaining a monopoly by prioritizing its own products in search results over alternatives. According to Judge Mehta, the plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate any “anticompetitive effect” in this regard.

Remaining arguments for the DOJ

While some antitrust allegations have been dismissed, Judge Mehta has allowed the DOJ to continue making its remaining arguments. Of particular concern are deals that reportedly require Android manufacturers to preload Google apps and set Google as the default search engine in their mobile browsers. The DOJ and states fear that such practices hinder rival search engines like Bing and DuckDuckGo from gaining significant traction.

Google’s response

Google’s President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, welcomed the judge’s decision to dismiss certain issues related to search. Walker emphasizes that users choose Google because of its helpfulness, and assures that the company will demonstrate at trial that its practices are both competitive and lawful. Google continues to defend itself against antitrust allegations, pointing to the need for partnerships and competition from other services like Twitter (now X) and Expedia.

Ongoing antitrust challenges

The lawsuit filed by the DOJ and partner states in 2020 is not the only antitrust case facing Google in the US. Another alliance of states sued Google over allegedly anticompetitive ad pricing. The narrowed scope of the recent ruling may pose challenges for the plaintiffs, potentially limiting the potential damages that Google could face.