Google had asked for summary judgment on all the government’s claims in the case, which is to go to trial next month.
US Judge Amit Mehta in Washington in a decision made public over the weekend granted Google’s request on some grounds but allowed the remainder of the claims to proceed to trial next month.
The Justice Department sued Google in 2020, accusing the US$1.6 trillion ($2.43 trillion) company of illegally using its market muscle to hobble rivals in the biggest challenge to the power and influence of Big Tech since it sued Microsoft in 1998.
Mehta is also hearing a case brought against Google by the attorneys general of 38 states and territories.
Google said it appreciated the court’s “careful consideration and decision to dismiss claims regarding the design of Google Search” in the case brought by the state attorneys general.
“We look forward to showing at trial that promoting and distributing our services is both legal and pro-competitive,” Google added.
Google has denied any wrongdoing in both cases.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong praised the decision to allow the states Google search antitrust suit to proceed to trial.
“Google abused its dominance to inflate its own profits at the expense of American businesses and in violation of antitrust laws,” Tong said.
Source : Itnews
