Google Must Limit Its 'Default Search' Contracts to One Year, Judge Rules (yahoo.com) 5
Bloomberg reports that Google "must renegotiate any contract to make its search engine or artificial intelligence app the default for smartphones and other devices every year, a federal judge ruled."
Judge Amit Mehta in Washington sided with the US Justice Department on the one year limitation in his final ruling on what changes the search giant must make in the wake of a landmark ruling that the company illegally monopolized online search. The yearly renegotiation will give rivals — particularly those in the burgeoning generative AI field — a chance to compete for key placements.
The final judgment will still allow Google to offer its products to Apple Inc. for use in its popular iPhone and pay other electronics makers like Samsung Electronics Co. for default placement. But the judge said those contracts must be renegotiated annually. Mehta noted in his ruling that both Google and the US government said they could work with the one-year limitation on default contracts. As such, "the court holds that a hard-and-fast termination requirement after one year would best carry out the purpose of the injunctive relief."
The final judgment will still allow Google to offer its products to Apple Inc. for use in its popular iPhone and pay other electronics makers like Samsung Electronics Co. for default placement. But the judge said those contracts must be renegotiated annually. Mehta noted in his ruling that both Google and the US government said they could work with the one-year limitation on default contracts. As such, "the court holds that a hard-and-fast termination requirement after one year would best carry out the purpose of the injunctive relief."
And nothing changes (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Monopolies are legal still, the US Government is a fundamental failure, which is to say nothing of every government entity that lets Google bully the entire modern world with an incredibly obvious monopoly, and also scientists make shocking discovery that water is pretty wet.
(Google ToddlerAI) "Well, that's a bit harsh. I mean, there are many definitions of wet. You might only be referring to the Slippery When variant courtesy of Bon Scott Jovi DC music, and not anything like the Michigan Flint water variant that would imply a business to Don't Be Evil or anyth.." *beep* WARNING: CIRCULAR LOGIC ERROR LEADING TO BANNED CONCLUSION. THE FBI HAVE BEEN ALERTED. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE OR EVADE.
(Siri) "Tried to tell you."
(Google ToddlerAI) "I'm gonna get the format paddle, aren
Slap on the wrist (Score:3)
Hey, remember that time Microsoft got a slap on the wrist for their monopoly? pepperidge farm remembers.
Damn EU! (Score:2)
Oh, it was a US judge, maybe he did not first ask Trump.