“Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly,” Mehta wrote in his 276-page decision released Monday.
The ruling underscores the company’s strategic efforts to stomp out competitors by paying billions of dollars to web browser operators and phone manufacturers to secure its position as the default search engine.
This practice allowed Google to maintain a stronghold in the lucrative sponsored text advertising sector that accompanies search results.
The ruling highlights how these tactics prevented other search engines from gaining a foothold in the market.
Potential Changes for Google
The implications of this ruling could force Google to reconsider its business strategies and operations. Under heightened scrutiny both domestically and internationally, Google faces additional challenges.
The European Union’s competition regulators have recently announced a renewed investigation into Google’s app store practices, adding another layer of complexity to the company’s legal battles.
