Google declared an illegal monopoly by a US court in Landmark Antitrust Case

Many thanks. Great resources.

Best Regards

On Mon, Aug 12, 2024 at 5:59 PM Rafe Mazer via KICTANet <
[email protected]> wrote:

> Thank you for the nice summary. Since it may be relevant/of interest to
> some, I wanted to share here some work on competition and bigtech and the
> AfCFTA I co-authored with Wang’ombe Kariuki, former DG of the Competition
> Authority of Kenya. Attaching here the article published in Concurrences as
> well as the longer companion report and reading deck.
>
> Regards,
>
> Rafe Mazer
> Director, Fair Finance Consulting
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 7, 2024 at 11:44 AM Mwendwa Kivuva via KICTANet <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>> U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google violated antitrust laws
>> by spending billions of dollars to secure exclusive deals and maintain its
>> monopoly in the online search market. The judge found that Google’s
>> practices created an illegal monopoly, effectively stifling competition and
>> innovation in the search engine market.
>>
>> The ruling could force Google to change its business practices
>> significantly. This might include altering or terminating exclusive
>> agreements that prevent competitors from gaining market share. The decision
>> could lead to substantial financial penalties and increased scrutiny from
>> regulators, potentially affecting Google’s profitability and market
>> valuation.
>>
>> This ruling sets a critical precedent for future antitrust actions
>> against other tech giants. It signals a more aggressive stance by
>> regulators towards monopolistic practices in the tech industry. The
>> decision is part of a larger trend of increasing regulatory scrutiny on big
>> tech companies globally, aiming to foster a more competitive and fair
>> market environment.
>>
>> Google has expressed disappointment with the ruling and plans to appeal.
>> The company argues that its practices benefit consumers by providing
>> superior search services. Smaller competitors and antitrust advocates have
>> praised the ruling, seeing it as a necessary step to curb Google’s
>> dominance and promote competition.
>>
>> This ruling is one of the most significant antitrust decisions since the
>> Microsoft case in the late 1990s. It reflects ongoing concerns about the
>> concentration of power in the hands of a few tech giants.
>> Economic Impact: By addressing monopolistic practices, the ruling aims to
>> create a more level playing field, potentially leading to more innovation
>> and better services for consumers. The case highlights the evolving legal
>> landscape around antitrust issues, with courts increasingly willing to
>> challenge the practices of dominant tech companies.
>>
>> The antitrust ruling against Google represents a landmark decision with
>> far-reaching implications. It underscores the growing determination of
>> regulators to tackle monopolistic practices in the tech industry and could
>> lead to significant changes in how major tech companies operate. As the
>> case progresses through appeals, it will be closely watched for its
>> potential to reshape the competitive dynamics of the digital economy.
>>
>> It will be interesting to see how Google reacts to the ruling, and how
>> other big tech companies, and emerging corporates like OpenAI learn from
>> this ruling. Is the Google search market under threat? Gartner predicts
>> Google could lose up to 25% market share by 2026 as generative AI solutions
>> become more embedded.
>>
>> Some interesting development, that you can follow here
>> www.reuters.com/legal/us-judge-rules-google-broke-antitrust-law-search-case-2024-08-05/
>>
>> Best Regards,
>> ______________________
>> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
>> www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva
>>