Google lost the antitrust trial in the San Francisco federal court. After a months-long courtroom battle, the jury found Google to be at fault in all 11 antitrust claims that Epic Games brought against the company’s Play Store for Android. The loss to Epic Games signals a potential broader setback for Google facing massive cases of antitrust in the United States.
According to former Justice Department antitrust lawyer Sam Weinstein, the legal fate of Google is uncertain. These cases represent the broader regulatory pushback against major technology companies such as Google.
Wilson White, a Google vice president of government affairs, stated that Google will appeal the verdict and defend its Android business model.
The anticompetitive practices found in the trial included monopolizing the Play Store and mobile billing system, imposing restrictions, and tying the two services together to hinder competition. Google and Epic will return to court in January to make their cases for the changes Google should implement to bolster competition on the Play Store.
The other trials against Google are regarding its popular search engine and search advertising practices, as well as its ad tech business. Judge Mehta, who will render the verdict in the search case, is unsure how he will rule in the case. If Judge Mehta sides with the Justice Department, Google could face a range of remedies, including offering consumers an easier way to choose a search engine and spin-off of Google’s search distribution platforms from the company.
In summary, the trials present massive challenges for Google, as it faces potential punishment and the uncertainty of the company’s business practices in the future. These legal fights against Google signal a broader effort from regulators and lawmakers worldwide who believe that major tech companies have too much power.
