Alphabet (GOOGL.US) has formally filed an appeal against a U.S. federal judge's monopoly ruling, contesting allegations of illegal monopolization in the online search and related advertising markets. The company asserts its market position was earned through merit. The case originated in August 2024 when U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Alphabet engaged in illegal monopoly practices by securing default search engine status through multi-billion dollar agreements with companies like Apple (AAPL.US), thereby unlawfully suppressing competition. In September 2025, Judge Mehta issued a remedial order requiring Alphabet to share certain search data with competitors, including AI firms like OpenAI, to restore market competition.
In its appeal brief filed on Friday, Alphabet argued the ruling "exceeds legal boundaries." The company contends that its distribution agreements with device manufacturers and browser developers do not prevent partners from promoting rival services such as Microsoft's (MSFT.US) Bing, and that market participants choose Alphabet's products voluntarily due to their superior quality. The filing stated, "Alphabet won in the marketplace fair and square."
Lee-Anne Mulholland, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Alphabet, stated in a declaration, "We are asking the court to reverse this flawed ruling—partners and users have many choices, and they choose Alphabet because it provides the best, most useful search results."
Alphabet expressed particular dissatisfaction with the judge's order to share data to assist competitors. The company argued that the remedies require providing data to generative AI companies that "did not even exist during the relevant period, could not have been harmed by Alphabet's conduct, and have achieved remarkable success unparalleled by any technology in human history, with no need to free-ride on Alphabet."
According to the schedule, the U.S. Department of Justice is expected to submit its own briefs in July. Reports indicate the government is also appealing the ruling, arguing the remedies are insufficient. Previously, the government advocated for broader reforms, including a forced sale of the Chrome browser, which Judge Mehta did not support. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on the appeal.
Approximately five years after the initial lawsuit was filed, the legal battle now moves to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. If Alphabet loses at this appellate level, the case could potentially proceed to the U.S. Supreme Court. A ruling in Alphabet's favor by the appeals court would overturn the existing remedial orders, including the data-sharing mandate.
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