Google Fights to Keep Its Search Monopoly — Can It Win in the Courts?

Google wants to keep its grip on online search — but the courts might not let it.

The tech giant has filed a notice of appeal against a 2024 federal court ruling that found it an illegal online search monopoly. Google seeks to pause remedies requiring it to share search data and syndicate services to rivals, citing risks to privacy and innovation.

"The decision failed to account for the rapid pace of innovation and intense competition we face from established players and well-funded start-ups," said Google's Lee-Anne Mulholland in a statement.

This contrasts with Judge Amit Mehta's 2024 ruling, which noted: "These are Fortune 500 companies, and they have nowhere else to turn other than Google."

The court ruled Google used anticompetitive contracts with phone manufacturers and browsers to maintain its monopoly, but declined to break up Chrome.

Remedies include sharing search data with competitors, though no structural changes like selling Chrome are mandated.