Google was required to file its proposed remedies over the antitrust lawsuit with the Department of Justice. Google was clear in its blog post that it disagrees with the DOJ but it has to legally file these, “the legal process requires that the parties outline what remedies would best respond to the Court’s decision, ahead of a hearing on remedies in April 2025,” Google wrote.
Google’s proposed remedies. Google proposed remedies across browser agreements, Android contracts and more, they include:
- Browser agreements: Offer more “flexibility” in those default browser agreements by allowing these companies to have multiple default agreements across platforms. Google wrote, “It would allow for multiple default agreements across different platforms (e.g., a different default search engine for iPhones and iPads) and browsing modes, plus the ability to change their default search provider at least every 12 months (the court’s decision specifically referred to a 12 month agreement as “presumed reasonable” under antitrust law).”
- Android contracts. Google also suggested it will make its Android agreements with OEMs non-exclusive and allow them to unbundle the Google Play Store from Google Search and Chrome. Google wrote, “Our proposal means device makers have additional flexibility in preloading multiple search engines, and preloading any Google app independently of preloading Search or Chrome. Again, this will give our partners additional flexibility and our rivals like Microsoft more chances to bid for placement.”
- Gemini. Part of the above, Google won’t require device makers or other partners to distribute Gemini to US users for three years.
More details. The full legal filing can be found in this PDF document and read Google’s blog post over here. You can also see the roundup of this coverage on Techmeme.
Why we care. The DOJ can have a serious impact on the future of Google and Google Search. How this all may play out is still not fully clear, but we continue to watch as follow the case. These steps may provide clues into the future outcome.
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About the author
Barry Schwartz is a technologist and a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land and a member of the programming team for SMX events. He owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics.
In 2019, Barry was awarded the Outstanding Community Services Award from Search Engine Land, in 2018 he was awarded the US Search Awards the “US Search Personality Of The Year,” you can learn more over here and in 2023 he was listed as a top 50 most influential PPCer by Marketing O’Clock.
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