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Sensory Inc. has filed a renewed antitrust lawsuit against Google, accusing the tech giant of unlawfully maintaining its monopolies over search and search-related advertising by blocking competing voice assistants on Android and other devices. The complaint was lodged in a D.C. federal court on Tuesday.

Allegations of Monopoly Maintenance

Sensory’s complaint centers on Google’s alleged use of contracts that make its Google Voice Assistant the default on a range of devices, limiting consumer access to alternative voice assistant services. The lawsuit claims that by making it harder for consumers to switch voice assistants, Google reinforces its dominance in the search engine market.

The lawsuit alleges that Google’s voice assistant sends users to Google’s search engine, effectively preventing rival assistants from directing traffic to other search engines. Sensory claims this practice creates “artificial barriers” to preserve Google's search monopoly.

Google Voice Assistant Lawsuit : Links to DOJ Antitrust Case

Sensory’s complaint draws heavily from the ongoing antitrust battle between Google and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). That case, led by the DOJ and several states, contends that Google has illegally maintained its search monopoly, including through lucrative profit-sharing agreements with device makers such as Apple and Samsung.

In August, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta issued a ruling in the DOJ case that found Google unlawfully maintained its monopoly over general internet search and related advertising. Sensory’s complaint cites portions of that ruling to support its claims that Google unfairly uses its dominant position to stifle competition in the voice assistant market as well.

Sensory's Business and Google's Alleged Tactics

Sensory, a company that develops technology to activate voice assistants through "wakewords," has licensed its technology to major players like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. However, the company claims Google is preventing it from offering its wakeword products on devices that use Google's Android operating system.

The lawsuit alleges that Google’s contracts with device manufacturers ensure that Google Assistant remains the default voice assistant and restrict the use of competing services. These agreements also purportedly make it difficult for users to switch to alternative voice assistants, cementing Google's control over mobile search queries.

In addition to mobile devices, the lawsuit claims that Google’s restrictive contracts apply to smart TVs, speakers, and even automobiles, ensuring that only one voice assistant is used per device. Sensory also accuses Google of leveraging deals with Apple and Samsung to make other voice assistants, like Apple’s Siri or Samsung’s Bixby, use Google’s search engine for web searches.

Google Voice Assistant Lawsuit : Market Impact

According to the complaint, nearly 95% of mobile device queries occur through Google search, and Google’s contractual restrictions limit competing search engines' access to over 80% of browsers and virtually all mobile devices.