INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The remedy phase of Google's search antitrust trial is getting underway, and the government is seeking to force major changes
The next few weeks could reshape Google as a company and significantly alter the balance of power on the Internet, and both sides have a
plan to get their way.With opening arguments beginning today, the US Justice Department will seek to convince the court that Google should
be forced to divest Chrome, unbundle Android, and make other foundational changes
But Google will attempt to paint the government's position as too extreme and rooted in past grievances
No matter what happens at this trial, Google hasn't given up hope it can turn back time.The Department of Justice (DOJ) has a major
advantage here: Google is guilty
It lost the liability phase of this trial resoundingly, with the court finding Google violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by "willfully
acquiring and maintaining monopoly power." As far as the court is concerned, Google has an illegal monopoly in search services and general
The purpose of this trial is to determine what to do about it, and the DOJ has some ideas.This case, overseen by United States District
Judge Amit Mehta, is taking place against a backdrop that is particularly unflattering for Google
It has been rocked by loss after loss in its antitrust cases, including the Epic-backed Google Play case, plus the search case that is at
And just last week, a court ruled that Google abused its monopoly in advertising tech
The remedies in Google's app store case are currently on hold pending appeal, but that problem is not going away
Meanwhile, Google is facing even more serious threats in the remedy phase of this trial.
