Monopolies

Judge weighs sweeping remedy proposals in US antitrust case against Google

The fate and fortunes of one of the world's most powerful tech companies now sits in the hands of a US judge wrestling with whether to impose far-reaching changes upon Google in the wake of its dominant search engine being declared an illegal monopoly. US District Judge Amit Mehta on Friday heard closing arguments from Justice Department lawyers who argued that a radical shake-up is needed to promote a free and fair market. Their proposed remedies include a ban on Google paying to lock its search engine in as the default on smart devices and an order requiring the company to sell its Chrome browser. Google's legal team argued that only minor concessions are needed and urged Mehta not to unduly punish the company with a harsh ruling that could squelch future innovations. Google also argued that the upheaval triggered by advances in Artificial Intelligence are already reshaping the search landscape, as conversational search options are rolling out from AI startups that are hoping to

Google broke law by dominating online ad tech market, rules US judge

US court rules Google broke antitrust laws in ad tech market, paving way for possible breakup of its ad business. DOJ pushes for sale of key units like Google Ad Manager

Google sued for $6.6 billion in UK for abusing dominance in search

Google is being sued in the UK over allegations that the tech giant abused its dominance in the online search market to drive up prices

Google loses fight on Android Auto access as EU court backs Italy watchdog

The Italian watchdog fined Google 102 million euros ($106.7 million) in 2021 for blocking Enel's JuicePass on Android Auto

Big cos creating monopoly to drive small shopkeepers out: Rahul Gandhi

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said "big companies are creating a monopoly" to drive small shopkeepers out of business and asserted that he is talking about strengthening such small businesses as they are holding the country's economy together. Gandhi posted a video on his social media handles on his recent visit to a 'kirana store' in Delhi's Bhogal to learn about the issues being faced by such small business owners. "There are about 1.3 crore grocery shops in the country. And about 15 to 20 crore families are directly or indirectly dependent on these shops. Recently, I visited one such shop in Bhogal, Delhi and talked to the shopkeepers, workers and some customers there," he said in the post accompanying the video. "The shop owners told me that they are under a lot of pressure since the arrival of quick commerce companies. Big companies are creating a monopoly so that small shopkeepers can be put out of business," the former Congress chief said. Goo

US court to decide whether Google's advertising tech constitutes a monopoly

Google, already facing a possible breakup of the company over its ubiquitous search engine, is fighting to beat back another attack by the US Department of Justice alleging monopolistic conduct, this time over technology that puts online advertising in front of consumers. The Justice Department and Google are scheduled to make closing arguments Monday in a trial alleging Google's advertising technology constitutes an illegal monopoly. US District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, will decide the case and is expected to issue a written ruling by the end of the year. If Brinkema finds Google has engaged in illegal, monopolistic conduct, she will then hold further hearings to explore what remedies should be imposed. The Justice Department, along with a coalition of states, has already said it believes Google should be forced to sell off its ad tech business, which generates tens of billions of dollars annually for the Mountain View, California-based company. After roughly

US justice department seeks Google Chrome's sale to restrict monopoly

Google said the DOJ's proposal would harm Americans' privacy and security, stymie Google's investments in artificial intelligence and hurt companies

Google's Chrome worth up to $20 billion if judge orders business sale

Antitrust officials, along with states that have joined the case, also plan to recommend Wednesday that federal judge Amit Mehta impose data licensing requirements

Ex Sebi chief to head panel on ending monopolies in gas transmission

Oil regulator has formed a committee under former Sebi chairman Ajay Tyagi to recommend ways of ending monopolies enjoyed by companies engaged in both transportation and marketing of natural gas and city gas retailing. The eight-member committee has been asked to give its recommendations on splitting entities engaged in both transportation and marketing of natural gas, and ending the monopolies of city gas retailers where required, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) said in an order. The panel has been asked to submit its report in three months. In mature markets, energy infrastructure is operated on a common carrier principle that gives access to third parties. Any user or supplier could access any gas pipeline, irrespective of who owns it. But that is not the case in India with users and suppliers often complaining of not getting access. The government had a few years back considered splitting state-owned gas utility GAIL (India) Ltd by hiving off its pipeline

Google antitrust trial: Documents say one thing, witnesses something else

The judge who will decide whether Google holds a monopoly over technology that matches buyers and sellers of online advertising must choose whether to believe what Google executives wrote or what they have said on the witness stand. The Justice Department is wrapping up its antitrust case against Google this week at a federal courtroom in Virginia. The federal government and a coalition of states contend Google has built and maintained a monopoly on the technology used to buy and sell the ads that appear to consumers when they browse the web. Google counters that the government is improperly focused on a very narrow slice of advertising essentially the rectangular banner ads that appear on the top and along the right side of a publisher's web page and that within the broader online advertising market, Google is beset on all sides from competition that includes social media companies and streaming TV services. Many of the government's key witnesses have been Google managers and ...

Google's Privacy Sandbox adoption burdening smaller ad-tech firms

Privacy Sandbox is a set of technologies that aims to enhance user privacy by anonymizing data, implementing stricter access controls, and targeting groups of users rather than individuals

Judge brands Google a monopolist, AI may bring quicker change in net search

A federal judge has branded Google as a ruthless monopolist bent on suffocating it competitors. But how do you go about creating alternatives to a search engine that's synonymous with internet exploration? It's a process that may take years to unfold as Google appeals the landmark decision issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta. And with that kind of time frame looming, the forces of technological upheaval may make the exercise moot. The rise of artificial intelligence may reshape the landscape more quickly and profoundly than any judge ever could. The way consumers navigate the internet is more likely to be affected by advances in AI products such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's own Gemini before a nearly 4-year-old case brought by the U.S. Justice Department is finally resolved. Even so, Mehta's 277-page ruling Monday creates challenges for Google that company founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin probably didn't envision when they set out to revolutionize internet sear

Accusing it of practising Cronyism, Congress asks govt to check oligopolies

Accusing the Modi government of practising "cronyism", the Congress on Monday said companies must expand but at the same time, the government has a responsibility to ensure oligopolies or monopolies do not emerge and that undue advantage arising out of access to political power is not exercised. Congress general secretary, in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh alleged that market concentration continues to grown under Prime Minister Modi's watch, and has reached a new high in key industries such as telecom, airlines, cement, steel, and tyres. He also shared on X a media report which claimed market concentration continued to increase in India's key industries as top players grabbed a larger share of the business in 2023-24 either through organic growth or acquisition. In his post on X, Ramesh said, "Cronyism is the non-biological Prime Minister's primary economic policy. Market concentration continues to grow under Mr. Modi's watch, and has reached a new high in key industries such

Breaking the minerals monopoly

India can draw inspiration from Indonesia's success in nickel to lead globally in critical minerals

Govt must ensure corp takeovers are fair, monopolies not created: Cong

The Congress on Saturday said it is the government's responsibility to ensure that competition among corporates is not stifled, oligopolies or monopolies do not emerge and corporate takeovers are free and fair. It is also the government's responsibility to ensure that undue advantage arising out of access to political power is not exercised, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said. His comments came after the Adani Group acquired Penna Cements while strengthening its share in the cement sector in southern India. "Aap chronology samajhiye (understand the chronology): September 2022: Adani acquires Ambuja Cements and ACC, to become country's second largest cement player. August 2023: Adani acquires Sanghi Industries, India's largest single-location cement unit. June 2024: Adani acquires Penna Cements, giving it substantial market share even in the last remaining region of South India." he said. "Upcoming: Adani is exploring the acquisition of Saurashtra Cement, Vadraj Cement, and

US DoJ files case against Apple claiming illegal monopoly over smartphones

The Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors and stifles innovation. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Jersey, alleges that Apple has monopoly power in the smartphone market and uses its control over the iPhone to engage in a broad, sustained, and illegal course of conduct. The lawsuit which was also filed with 16 state attorneys general is the latest example of the Justice Department's approach to aggressive enforcement of federal antitrust law that officials say is aimed at ensuring a fair and competitive market, even as it has lost some significant anticompetition cases. President Joe Biden has called for the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to vigorously enforce antitrust statutes. The increased policing of corporate mergers and business deals has been met with resistance from some business leaders who have

House panel calls social media cos for meeting on content, monopoly

This move coincides with news of the government's preparation of the Digital India Bill (DIB) which aims to supersede the Information Technology Act, 2000

Parl panel seeks ex-ante evaluation to prevent monopoly in digital markets

A Parliamentary panel on Thursday said ex-ante evaluation is of the essence to ensure that digital markets do not end up being monopolised. The government has already set up a committee on digital competition law to examine the need for a separate law on competition in digital markets. In a report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance said that in the context of digital markets, it "feels that ex-ante evaluation is of the essence to ensure markets don't end up monopolised". Competition Commission of India (CCI) has established the Digital Market and Data Unit (DMDU) to facilitate cross divisional exchange and act as a nodal point for stakeholder engagement on digital market matters. The panel said DMDU holds significant importance going forth in the future as digital markets display characteristics distinct from traditional markets. "It is of utmost importance that they (digital markets) are properly governed so as to curb the sharp 'tipping' of markets leading to emerg

Japanese govt aims to break Apple, Google application store monopolies

Japan has joined the list of countries determined to break Apple and Google's monopoly on the app stores on their respective mobile operating systems

Will not have monopoly or duopoly in telecom sector: Ashwini Vaishnaw

India will not see a monopoly or duopoly in the telecom sector with state-owned BSNL emerging as a 'very stable' player, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said. Speaking at the Express Adda on Saturday, he allayed concerns of a duopoly emerging in the market with weakening financials and dropping market share of Vodafone Idea Ltd. "No, we are not heading towards a monopoly. Even a duopoly will not be there. BSNL is coming up as a very stable player in the market," he said when asked whether the state of affairs in Vodafone Idea and the current financial struggles faced by Airtel would leave Reliance Jio the single dominant mobile telephony player. The telecom market currently has three private players - billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea Ltd. Jio's disruptive entry has helped it to become the largest operator in the country and it is now leading the 5G rollout. Sunil Bharti Mittal's Airtel is competing with Jio while Vodafone Idea is yet to