GOOGLE REJECTS BID TO SELL CHROME BROWSER, PROPOSES LICENSING RESTRICTIONS
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Late on Friday, Google pushed back against a U.S. proposal to force the sale of its Chrome browser, suggesting instead that a judge address antitrust concerns by prohibiting the company from making favorable treatment of its software a licensing requirement.
In a 12-page proposed order, Google recommended banning the tech giant from requiring preferential distribution or treatment of its software on mobile devices as a condition for licensing popular apps like Chrome, Play, or Gemini.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government, in November, urged a judge to order Google to sell its Chrome browser, as part of a significant antitrust effort aimed at dismantling the company’s dominance.
The Department of Justice advocated for a broader restructuring of Google’s operations, including prohibiting agreements that make Google the default search engine on smartphones and stopping the company from exploiting its Android mobile operating system.
Deciding how to address Google’s violations is now the focus of the landmark antitrust trial, in which U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled in August that Google operates as a monopoly.
Google’s proposal to Judge Mehta includes barring the company from leveraging the licensing appeal of its apps to pressure mobile device makers into pre-installing its search software or making it the default, as indicated in court documents.
“Nothing in this Final Judgment shall otherwise prohibit Google from providing consideration to a mobile device manufacturer or wireless carrier with respect to any Google product or service in exchange for such entity’s distribution, placement on any access point, promotion, or licensing of that Google product or service,” the proposed order stipulates.
The U.S. government’s call for breaking up Google represents a dramatic shift in regulatory approach, as tech giants have largely been untouched since efforts to dismantle Microsoft failed two decades ago.
Regardless of Judge Mehta’s ruling, Google is likely to appeal, potentially extending the case for years and leaving the ultimate decision in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court.
The case may also be impacted by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office in January and is expected to appoint new leadership at the Justice Department’s antitrust division.
The new administration could decide to continue the case, negotiate a settlement with Google, or drop the case entirely.
The trial, which concluded last year, examined Google’s confidential agreements with smartphone manufacturers, including Apple.
These agreements involve substantial payments to ensure Google’s search engine is the default option on browsers, iPhones, and other devices, granting the company unparalleled access to user data and enabling it to solidify its global dominance in search engine services.
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