Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-09-02 23:16Core Points - A U.S. judge did not prohibit Apple (AAPL.US) from its lucrative search agreement with Google (GOOGL.US), which generates approximately $20 billion annually for Apple [1] - The judge ruled that while Google cannot enter into exclusive internet search agreements, it can still pay browser developers for default search engine agreements [1] - Apple's stock rose by up to 4.3% in after-hours trading, while Google's stock also saw an increase of up to 8.7% [1] Summary by Sections Legal Context - The search partnership between Apple and Google is central to a landmark lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against Google [2] - The ruling allows Google to retain its popular Chrome web browser [2] Judge's Ruling - Judge Amit Mehta stated that cutting off Google's payments would likely cause significant harm to distribution partners, related markets, and consumers [1] - Companies involved must promote alternative search engines and provide options for changing default search settings annually [1] Market Reaction - Following the ruling, Apple's stock price increased to $239.50, reflecting an 8.3% decline year-to-date [1] - Google's stock also experienced a notable rise, indicating positive market sentiment regarding the ruling [1]