Judge Cites 25-Year-Old Microsoft Case in Ruling Against Google's Search Monopoly

A US judge ruled that Google holds a monopoly in the search market and invoked the Microsoft antitrust case from 25 years ago as a precedent. In the Microsoft case, the company was found to have illegally used its dominance in the Windows operating system to disadvantage rival web browsers like Netscape Navigator. After the appeal, a court banned Microsoft from retaliating against device makers using multiple operating systems, requiring equal access to programming interfaces. The judge in the Google case said the "power of the default" was key, referring to Google's search position on devices like iPhones, which it pays billions to secure. Judge Mehta scheduled a separate trial on September 4 to determine penalties against Google, during which Google can appeal.