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Google to Appeal US Court Ruling of Illegal Monopoly in Search
Yahoo Finance· 2026-01-16 22:47
Core Viewpoint - Alphabet Inc.'s Google is appealing an antitrust decision that found the company illegally monopolized online search and search advertising, which is expected to delay changes to its business operations [1]. Group 1: Appeal Process - The appeal notice was filed in Washington federal court, requesting a hold on the lower-court ruling while the appeal is pending [2]. - The DC Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to hear the case later this year, with a typical decision timeframe of about one year after the appeal notice is filed [2]. Group 2: Case Background - The antitrust case was initiated in 2020 during the Trump administration and went to trial in fall 2023 [3]. - US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled in August 2024 that Google illegally monopolized the search market through contracts with Apple and Samsung, which required its search engine to be the default, costing Google over $20 billion annually [3]. Group 3: Court Rulings and Market Reaction - Following a second trial in spring 2025, Judge Mehta rejected the Justice Department's request to force the sale of Google's Chrome browser, allowing Google to continue its default search engine payments but requiring annual rebidding of these deals to enhance competition [4]. - Market reactions have been favorable, with Google's stock increasing by 56% since the September decision, as investors perceive the company as a leader in artificial intelligence [5].