The article discusses the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against Google, where the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that the company has a monopoly on search advertising technology. The case is significant because it could impact other cases involving Big Tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, and Facebook. Here are 5 key points from the article:
- Google’s case: The DOJ filed a separate suit against Google in January, alleging that the search giant has a monopoly on advertising technology.
- Impact on other cases: The outcome of this case could impact other antitrust cases involving Big Tech companies, including Amazon’s alleged monopoly power and Apple’s policy for third-party apps.
- Exclusive dealing law precedent: One potential outcome is that the court might restrict Google from buying default status on more than a certain percentage of devices, relying on "exclusive dealing law precedent".
- Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter’s view: Assistant Attorney General Kanter believes that the law should ban conduct that both handicaps rivals and monopolizes a market, making the defaults illegal.
- Significance of the case: The outcome of this case could demonstrate the relevance of antitrust law in checking the power of Big Tech companies.
Additionally, the article mentions several other ongoing cases involving Big Tech companies:
- Amazon’s alleged monopoly power
- Apple’s policy for third-party apps on its devices
- Facebook’s ownership of Instagram and WhatsApp
Overall, the article suggests that the outcome of this case could have significant implications for the tech industry and the role of antitrust law in regulating market behavior.