The long-awaited Sept. 2 federal ruling on Google’s internet search monopoly came as a huge surprise to insiders and analysts, given its profound implications.
While a former Google insider called the ruling a “significant victory” for the company, he also highlighted another Department of Justice (DOJ) monopoly case—with a remedies trial scheduled later this month—that he is less optimistic about. Some analysts noted that the ruling could have a positive impact on high-tech merger and acquisition activity.
As of August, Google represented 85.7 percent of the global online search engine market, according to StatCounter. In March, the Justice Department and a coalition of 38 state attorneys general petitioned the court to compel Google to divest Chrome and implement measures to dismantle the company’s internet search monopoly….