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Google promises: We will license content from publishers in Poland
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Google employs 8,000 in Poland. people. The minister wants it to be much more
Google's long-standing monopolistic practices
The court's ruling, led by Justice Amit Mehta, is the result of a lengthy proceeding that began in 2020 during the Trump administration. The lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, supported by dozens of states, accused Google of systematically eliminating competition by concluding billion-dollar exclusivity agreements with companies such as Apple and Samsung. In 2022 alone, Google spent about $26 billion on these deals, most of which went to Apple, effectively blocking other search engines like Microsoft's Bing and DuckDuckGo.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland described the verdict as a "historic victory for the American people", emphasizing that the ruling proves that "no company is above the law". Judge Mehta noted that Google's actions not only maintained its monopoly, but also stifled innovation and limited consumer choice.
What consequences awaits Google?
Google is not going to give up without a fight. The company said it would appeal, which could drag the case all the way to the US Supreme Court. Nevertheless, the federal court's ruling already calls into question the current business practices of the Mountain View giant.
This decision recalls a similar battle from over 25 years ago, when Microsoft was accused of dominating the operating system market. The case ended in 2001 with a settlement that banned Microsoft from certain business practices. Similarly, the current ruling may lead to restrictions that will force Google to change the way it does business.
Will there be more search engines?
The amount of the fine and other consequences that Google will have to bear will be determined at a later date. The court has the difficult task of balancing the interests of consumers, competition and the company itself. However, it is already clear that this decision could open the door to greater competition in the search engine market, which in turn could lead to innovation and better services for users.
