Apple Inc. has filed an emergency motion urging a Washington, D.C., federal court to pause the high-stakes antitrust case targeting Google’s search dominance. The request comes as Apple appeals a decision barring it from participating in the upcoming remedies trial, which could reshape the digital search landscape.
Apple Challenges Exclusion from Trial
In its Thursday filing, Apple asked the court to stay proceedings while it seeks to overturn a ruling that denied its request to intervene in the case. The dispute centers on a multibillion-dollar revenue-sharing deal between Apple and Google, which makes Google the default search engine on Apple’s Safari browser—a partnership generating more than $20 billion annually for Apple.
According to Apple, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and state enforcers are not only challenging the existing agreement but also seeking to prohibit any commercial arrangement between the two companies for the next decade.
“If Apple’s appeal is not resolved until during or after the remedies trial, Apple may well be forced to stand mute at trial, as a mere spectator, while the government pursues an extreme remedy that targets Apple by name,” Apple stated in its motion. The company argues that it must be allowed to defend its ability to negotiate future agreements that benefit both Apple users and its business interests.
Google’s Monopoly and Proposed Remedies
The request to intervene would grant Apple the ability to question witnesses and present arguments during the scheduled April trial, which will determine what penalties should be imposed after U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta ruled that Google violated antitrust laws.
