the trial in the United States versus Google antitrust case continued today, September 13, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The government continued its case, calling witnesses to testify about Google's alleged anti-competitive practices.
One of the witnesses who testified today was Michael Wooldridge, a former Google engineer. Wooldridge testified that Google had a policy of "favoring its own products and services" in search results. He also said that Google had made it difficult for other companies to compete with its search engine.
Another witness who testified today was Richard Whitt, a former antitrust lawyer for the Justice Department. Whitt testified that Google's agreements with Apple and other companies to be the default search provider were anti-competitive. He said that these agreements prevented consumers from choosing other search engines.
The government is expected to continue its case tomorrow, September 14, 2023. Google is then expected to begin its defense.
The trial is expected to last for several weeks. The outcome of the trial could have a significant impact on the tech industry. If the government is successful, it could force Google to change its business practices.
Here are some other key takeaways from the trial today:
The government argued that Google's search engine is a "monopoly product" and that Google has used its power to stifle competition.
Google's lawyers argued that the government is wrong to characterize Google's search engine as a monopoly product and that Google has not engaged in any anti-competitive practices.
The judge in the case, Amit Mehta, questioned Google's lawyers about their arguments, suggesting that he is not convinced by their defense.
The trial is still in its early stages, so it is too early to say what the outcome will be. However, the government's case seems to be gaining momentum, and Google's lawyers are facing some tough questions from the judge.