Apple has requested to participate in the next phase of the ongoing antitrust trial against Google, emphasizing that it cannot rely on Google to defend the revenue-sharing agreements that benefit both companies. The iPhone maker argues that these agreements, which make Google the default search engine on Apple’s Safari browser, are central to its financial success, contributing up to $20 billion annually. In court documents, Apple stated that it received an estimated $20 billion from this arrangement in 2022 alone.
The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) antitrust case against Google is set to enter its next phase in April, aiming to address Google’s alleged monopoly in the online search market. Prosecutors are pushing for drastic measures to restore competition, such as requiring Google to sell its Chrome web browser or even its Android operating system.
While Apple and Google are fierce competitors in areas such as smartphones and app stores, their partnership regarding search is mutually beneficial. Google pays Apple billions each year to be the default search engine on Apple devices, and both companies profit from this deal. However, Apple’s intervention in the case signals a shift in its position, as it distances itself from Google’s defense strategy. Apple’s lawyers argue that Google is no longer able to adequately represent its interests, particularly given the broader effort to break up Google’s business units.
In response to antitrust concerns, Google has proposed loosening its default agreements with browser developers, mobile-device manufacturers, and wireless carriers but has not offered to end its revenue-sharing agreements.
