As expected, Google has just appealed the antitrust ruling from 2024, related to its search monopoly. That case has been dragged into 2025 and 2026 as well. The final verdict was reached earlier this year.
Following the final verdict, the DOJ decided to make its own appeal, claiming that penalties imposed on Google were too lenient. In the end, Google was not forced to sell Chrome or anything like that. The court did, however, forbid Google from making exclusivity deals with Apple or similar deals moving forward.
Google is appealing its search dominance antitrust ruling
That’s pretty much what Google is appealing today. In a filing with the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Google said that the district court made a mistake when concluding that Google’s search success was due to anything other than competition on merit.
In its appeal, Google claims that it jumped over competition through better innovation, more investments, and “just working harder.”
Here’s a direct quote: “Whether or not Google has monopoly power, Google did nothing that “harm[ed] the competitive process.” It did not impede its rivals’ opportunity to make—or Apple’s and Mozilla’s ability to choose—a better offer. Indeed, there is no finding—or even any evidence—that Google’s customers would have chosen a rival, even in the absence of the challenged agreements. Google just prevailed in the marketplace fair and square.”
Google’s filing also says that Apple was free to distribute and promote rival search engines as well. The company also claims that any exclusivity interpreted by the court was Apple’s own choice for “sound business reasons.”
Google is asking the court to undo the remedies that were put in place
Through this filing, Google is asking the court to undo the remedies that were put in place. Through those remedies, Google was not only forbidden to make exclusivity agreements like the one with Apple, but it was also forced to share search data, offer information on user interaction, and syndicate its results to competing companies.
Google also wants AI companies like OpenAI excluded from receiving data. Google says those companies did not exist during the period covered in the DOJs filing. Google says that those companies are “already succeeding as wildly as any technology in human history without any need to free-ride on Google’s success.”
So, it seems like this saga is still not over. The next step is likely a court date appearance with oral arguments. That likely won’t happen until late 2026, or perhaps even in 2027.
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