Google vs US govt: How the case could play out as epic court battle begins

The government says Google has monopoly power in three markets: general search services, search text advertising, and search advertising

Alphabet Inc.’s Google and the US Justice Department are set to face each other in court Friday for the first time since the government sued the company for illegally monopolizing internet search.

The hearing marks the first time attorneys for Google and the government will come together to start mapping out the the litigation process. It will set the stage for what’s shaping up to be a drawn-out court battle that could ultimately weaken Google’s gatekeeper position over the web if the government is successful.

“We’re at the top of the first inning of a very long game,” said Mark McCareins,