The Guardianยท2025-04-17 16:40Core Viewpoint - A US district judge ruled that Google illegally dominated two markets in online advertising technology, which may lead to antitrust actions against the company, including potential divestitures of its advertising products [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Findings - The judge found Google liable for "willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power" in the markets for publisher ad servers and ad exchanges [2]. - The antitrust enforcers were unable to prove that Google held a monopoly in advertiser ad networks [2]. Group 2: Company's Response - Google plans to appeal the ruling, claiming it won half of the case and disagrees with the decision regarding its publisher tools [3]. - The company argues that publishers have multiple options and choose Google for its ad tech tools, which are described as simple, affordable, and effective [3]. Group 3: Potential Consequences - The ruling allows for a hearing to determine what actions Google must take to restore competition, potentially including the sale of parts of its business [3][4]. - Google faces the possibility of being ordered by two US courts to sell assets or alter its business practices, with another trial scheduled regarding the sale of its Chrome browser [5]. Group 4: Trial Insights - The trial revealed that Google employed classic monopoly tactics, such as eliminating competitors through acquisitions and locking customers into its products [6]. - Google's defense highlighted that the case focused on past practices and claimed that competition from other tech companies was overlooked [7].