“Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Google Monopoly.”

A Date in May, The Big G Faces the Music

It seems like the U.S. Justice Department has finally finished sifting through all the receipts on Google’s borderline shady business practices, just like they were promised a free coffee after the tenth purchase. The final showdown, a.k.a the closing arguments, are penned for May 2024. Finally! I hope someone books popcorn well in advance.

The Million Dollar Question

The spicy heart of this salsa dance is one intriguing question: If you’re a big wig in the industry, can you do a bit of ‘rule-bending’ in a world where straight lines are dull— as long as your wily shenanigans create a better product for your business? It’s like asking, can I stuff my face with all the tacos at the buffet, just because I have vowed to finish every plate?

So, Google might be a giant of the industry, but can it do the cha-cha dance on the edge of anti-competitive business practices, and justify it by saying they’re simply delivering a better product? Would it be outrageous if I wrapped myself in all the blankets at a house party and said I was doing it so I could demonstrate how to survive a polar vortex?

Hot Take

So, what’s the endgame here? Is the U.S. Justice Department going to slap Google on the wrist and send them off with a stern warning like “Alright, Google. No more monopoly shenanigans. Let other businesses play too!” If so, it wouldn’t be the wildest thing 2024 has served us. Keep your eyes pealed, folks! In this digital era, you never know when the next version of the Hunger Games will be played out in courtroom dramas.

Original article: https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/27/judge-to-deliberate-competition-harm-vs-googles-gains-in-search-antitrust-trial/