3 6 Ke·2025-08-26 12:17Core Viewpoint - Ecosia, a non-profit search engine from Germany, has made a bold move to acquire Google's Chrome browser for $0, proposing to share 40% of the profits while using the remaining 60% for climate and environmental projects [1][3][14] Group 1: Acquisition Proposal - Ecosia's proposal is not for Google to give Chrome away for free, but to establish a "Chrome Foundation" where Ecosia would manage the browser's operations for the next 10 years while Google retains ownership and intellectual property [3][5] - The proposal comes amid Google's potential legal troubles, as the U.S. Department of Justice is pushing for remedies that could include the sale of Chrome due to antitrust concerns [6][8] Group 2: Market Context - Chrome holds over two-thirds of the browser market share, making it a critical asset for Google and a significant player in the web ecosystem [10] - The recent legal challenges faced by Google, including a ruling that confirmed its monopolistic behavior, have increased the likelihood of Chrome being sold [8][12] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Other companies, such as AI startup Perplexity and OpenAI, have also expressed interest in acquiring Chrome, with Perplexity offering $34.5 billion in cash, which is double its own valuation [6][14] - If forced to sell Chrome, Google may prefer to sell it to Ecosia, a non-profit, to improve its corporate image, rather than to a direct competitor like Perplexity [12][14]