By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept

Your #1 guide to start a business and grow it the right way…

InSmartBudget

  • Home
  • Startups
  • Start A Business
    • Business Plans
    • Branding
    • Business Ideas
    • Business Models
    • Fundraising
  • Growing a Business
  • Funding
  • More
    • Tax Preparation
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
Subscribe
Aa
InSmartBudgetInSmartBudget
  • Startups
  • Start A Business
  • Growing a Business
  • Funding
  • Leadership
  • Marketing
  • Tax Preparation
Search
  • Home
  • Startups
  • Start A Business
    • Business Plans
    • Branding
    • Business Ideas
    • Business Models
    • Fundraising
  • Growing a Business
  • Funding
  • More
    • Tax Preparation
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
Made by ThemeRuby using the Foxiz theme Powered by WordPress
InSmartBudget > Marketing > Google’s ad-tech business is an illegal monopoly, judge rules

Google’s ad-tech business is an illegal monopoly, judge rules

News Room By News Room April 18, 2025 4 Min Read
Share

Google’s days of playing Monopoly could be coming to an end.

On Thursday, a federal judge ruled that Google’s control over multiple facets of the online advertising industry are illegal, a blow for Google in the landmark trial that began last fall and put the internet giant’s ad tech under the microscope. In her ruling, US District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema wrote that the tech giant “willfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts to acquire and maintain monopoly power in the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets for open-web display advertising” in violation of the Sherman Act.

By “depriving rivals of the ability to compete,” Brinkema wrote, “this exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Google’s publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web.”

During the trial last fall, the Justice Department alleged that Google monopolized three areas of online advertising: publisher ad servers, ad exchange markets, and advertiser ad networks. Brinkema found Google guilty on the first two, but ruled that the government “failed to prove” a monopoly on the third.

“The Court’s ruling is clear: Google is a monopolist and has abused its monopoly power,” Abigail Slater, assistant attorney general in the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, said in a statement. “Today’s opinion confirms Google’s controlling hand over online advertising and, increasingly, the internet itself. I am extraordinarily proud of the dedicated public servants whose tireless efforts led to today’s decision.”

Big reputation: This is the third time in less than two years that Google has been found to be operating in violation of antitrust law. In 2023, a federal jury ruled that the company’s Android app store policies violated antitrust law, and last year, a federal judge ruled that Google’s search business was monopolistic.

Get marketing news you’ll actually want to read

Marketing Brew informs marketing pros of the latest on brand strategy, social media, and ad tech via our weekday newsletter, virtual events, marketing conferences, and digital guides.

What’s next? In a statement provided to Marketing Brew, Google said it disagreed with the ruling and intends to appeal the decision. While appeals could take years, Google’s business operations could stand to be drastically reshaped by these three decisions. Per the company’s latest earnings report, Google ads brought in $72 billion and search brought in $54 billion in Q4 of last year.

Brinkema could force Google’s hand and require the company to sell off parts of its ad-tech business, the remedy that was previously requested by the government; that will be determined at a later hearing, the date of which has yet to be set. In the meantime, a three-week hearing on next steps around the search case is scheduled to begin Monday. In that case, the Justice Department has also asked the court to break the company up.

This Google ad-tech decision is part of a larger reckoning around the consolidated power of Big Tech. Earlier this week, Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in federal court in an antitrust case brought by the FTC, which is focused on Meta’s ownership of Instagram and WhatsApp.

While Zuck defended the acquisitions, one of his 2018 emails displayed in court could provide some solace for Big Tech apologists.

“Most companies,” he wrote, “actually perform better after they’ve been split up.”

Read the full article here

News Room April 18, 2025 April 18, 2025
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Previous Article These Toxic Leader Traits Always Make Me Walk Away From a Business
Next Article Why ‘If You Build It, They Will Come’ Is Terrible Startup Advice
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wake up with our popular morning roundup of the day's top startup and business stories

Stay Updated

Get the latest headlines, discounts for the military community, and guides to maximizing your benefits
Subscribe

Top Picks

I Built a 7-Figure Business with a Team I Had Never Met – Here’s What I Learned
July 8, 2025
Why Tubi is beefing up its creator program
July 8, 2025
Why Entrepreneurs Should Stop Obsessing Over Growth
July 7, 2025
‘Timmy Failure,’ ‘Pearls Before Swine’ Creator Stephan Pastis on Creativity
July 7, 2025
These Startups Are Building Advanced AI Models Without Data Centers
July 7, 2025

You Might Also Like

Why Tubi is beefing up its creator program

Marketing

How Instagram built (and potentially restricted) the link-in-bio industry

Marketing

What marketers talked about at Tribeca Festival

Marketing

Netflix teams up with Yahoo DSP as it builds out ads tier

Marketing

© 2023 InSmartBudget. All Rights Reserved.

Helpful Links

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Press Release
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Resources

  • Start A Business
  • Funding
  • Growing a Business
  • Leadership
  • Marketing

Popuplar

The 3 Keys to a Perfect Franchise Fit
How Instagram built (and potentially restricted) the link-in-bio industry
He Went From $471K in Debt to Teaching Others How to Succeed

We provide daily business and startup news, benefits information, and how to grow your small business, follow us now to get the news that matters to you.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?