Apple Gains From Google’s Antitrust Relief

In the world of Big Tech, sometimes one company’s courtroom victory becomes another company’s financial windfall. That was the case this week when Apple’s stock jumped nearly 4% after a U.S. judge issued a lenient remedy for Google’s antitrust violations in the internet search market.

For Apple, the decision protects a highly lucrative arrangement: the roughly $20 billion a year Google pays to remain the default search engine on Safari and other Apple devices. For Google, the ruling avoided the nightmare scenario of being forced to split off its Chrome browser or face deeper structural penalties.

The Background: Google’s Search Monopoly Case

The U.S. Department of Justice successfully argued last year that Google holds an illegal monopoly in online search. At the heart of the case was the company’s practice of paying billions to device makers and browser developers—Apple included—to secure default search placement.

While critics pushed for drastic remedies, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta instead required Google and Apple to adjust the terms of their deal. Google can continue paying Apple for default status but cannot remain the exclusive search provider.

This subtle distinction means that while competitors may get a chance to strike deals with Apple in the future, the partnership between Google and Apple remains intact—at least for now.

Why the Judge Went Soft on Google

The ruling reflects how fast the search industry is evolving. Judge Mehta noted that the rise of generative AI tools has put new players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity AI in a position to challenge Google in ways traditional search companies couldn’t.

The court also warned that blocking such agreements would unfairly strip companies like Apple of a major revenue source without significantly reducing Google’s dominance. In other words, the remedies had to balance competition concerns with economic realities.

A Data Sharing Twist

While Google avoided a breakup, it isn’t walking away untouched. The company will be required to provide competitors with search query data snapshots at marginal cost. This dataset could, in theory, help rivals build better search engines.

However, Google won’t have to share advertising data—the real crown jewel of its business. As experts point out, search data alone offers limited competitive advantage without the ad insights that drive Google’s massive profits.

Apple’s Next Move: Building Its Own Search Engine

Interestingly, Apple may not always rely on Google’s checks. Reports suggest the company is developing an AI-powered search engine that could debut as soon as next year. This project reportedly uses some Google technology under a fresh partnership, further cementing the “open but strong” relationship between the two firms.

Even if Apple eventually launches a rival to Google Search, the ruling ensures that, for now, both companies continue to benefit from their long-standing collaboration.