Google is under scrutiny in the largest U.S. antitrust trial in 25 years. The Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that Google has exploited its dominant position in the internet search market to stifle competition and innovation. The trial will last for 10 weeks, and the outcome could significantly impact Google’s future.

Key Points:

The DOJ accuses Google of making its search engine the default choice in various places and devices, including web browsers and smartphones, to maintain its market dominance.

The case is about whether Google’s search engine will ever face meaningful competition in the future.

Google pays billions of dollars annually to secure default positions, such as being the default search engine on the iPhone.

The trial may result in concessions that limit Google’s power, potentially ending its practice of paying companies like Apple to make Google the default search engine on devices.

The trial draws parallels to the antitrust case against Microsoft in 1998 when regulators accused Microsoft of bundling Internet Explorer with its Windows operating system to stifle competition.

Google’s defense argues that there is substantial competition in the search market, ranging from other search engines like Bing to websites like Amazon and Yelp, where users can seek recommendations.

This high-stakes trial could have significant implications for Google and its dominance in the internet search market.

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