Google Ad Business Ruling Upheld, Remedy Details Coming Soon

A federal judge in Virginia has ruled that Google can keep its advertising business intact after a trial last year found the company had acted illegally. The ruling, made by Judge Leonie M. Brinkema, does not require Google to sell its ad-tech business but does mandate adjustments to its business practices to favor competitors.

The judge's initial ruling in April last year found that Google had engaged in anti-competitive behavior through exclusive agreements with device manufacturers and revenue-sharing deals with mobile carriers. These agreements helped Google maintain its market dominance and allowed it to keep its ad-tech business thriving.

Google's vice president of regulatory affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the company is pleased the court rejected the DOJ's proposal to break apart tools that help small businesses reach new customers. The full details of the remedy will be revealed once the 14-day waiting period has passed.