Judge Rejects Apple's Plea to Delay Google Monopoly Trial

Judge Denies Apple's Request to Delay Google Remedy Trial

A swift rejection of Apple’s motion for an emergency stay by Judge Amit Mehta has left the tech giant with limited influence over the upcoming Google remedy trial. The Department of Justice declared Google a monopoly in August 2024, and this trial aims to determine appropriate remedies for Google's monopolistic practices. Apple sought to delay the trial, hoping to protect its $20 billion annual search deal with Google. However, Judge Mehta ruled that Apple failed to demonstrate irreparable harm or meet the stringent requirements for a stay.

Apple’s motion was filed on February 3, 2025, a day after Judge Mehta initially denied Apple significant participation. The judge found Apple's request to be too late and deemed that public interest and potential harm to existing parties weighed against granting the stay. Apple has not ruled out further legal action and has already filed a similar motion with the DC Circuit court.

The remedy trial, expected to conclude by August 2025, is likely to end the deal making Google the default search engine on iPhones. This decision could significantly impact Apple's business strategy, given the substantial annual revenue from this partnership.