Department of Justice appeals Google search monopoly ruling

On Tuesday, the Department of Justice and the plaintiffs in the antitrust case against Google filed a cross-appeal, as the DOJ Antitrust Division announced in a post on X: “Today, the DOJ Antitrust Division filed notice that it will cross-appeal from the remedies decisions in its case against Google’s unlawful monopolization of internet search and search advertising.” Just a few weeks ago, Google itself filed a notice to appeal and requested a pause on the remedies ordered by DC District Court Judge Amit Mehta last year. Those remedies included requiring Google to share search data with its rivals and barring Google from making exclusive distribution deals for its search or AI products that could hinder distribution for competitors. However, Google was ultimately not required to sell its Chrome browser and wasn’t barred from paying distribution partners for preloading or premium placement of its search or AI products. The DOJ’s cross-appeal suggests that neither party is fully satisfied with Judge Mehta’s ruling in the case, or at least the remedies ordered in September.