GOOGLE PAYS BILLIONS TO SECURE SEARCH ENGINE DEFAULT
Google paid $26.3 billion in 2021 to maintain its search engine as the default on smartphones and browsers, ensuring market dominance. The value of default placement is evident as competitors would need to shell out billions to secure similar agreements. Losing defaults could result in significant revenue loss, as Google projected with Safari. This legal victory against Google marks a landmark decision in challenging Big Tech monopolies.
Antitrust cases against other tech giants like Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Apple indicate a bipartisan stance on enforcing competition laws. Going back to Microsoft’s settlement in 2004 over Internet Explorer, the Google search case represents a major accusation of monopoly in a generation. Antitrust enforcement continues to protect consumer interests, as seen in this Google case.
Source: Reuters