Google Claims Partial Victory in Monopoly Case; Plans Appeal on Adverse Rulings

On April 17, 2025, US District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that Google's control over advertising markets constitutes an unlawful monopoly. In response, Google has reframed the ruling as a partial victory, stating that it won half of the case and will appeal the rest. The company emphasized that the judge found its advertiser tools and acquisitions, such as DoubleClick, do not harm competition. However, the court ruled that Google's publisher tools raise prices and reduce competition, substantially harming users and businesses. The Department of Justice is expected to insist on breaking up Google as a remedy, while the appeals process remains uncertain.