Apple seeks to defend Google’s billion-dollar funds in search case

By Jody Godoy

(Reuters) – Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has requested to take part in Google’s upcoming U.S. antitrust trial over on-line search, saying it can’t depend on Google to defend revenue-sharing agreements that ship the iPhone maker billions of {dollars} annually for making Google the default search engine on its Safari browser.

Apple doesn’t plan to construct its personal search engine to compete with Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)’s Google, whether or not or not the funds proceed, the corporate’s legal professionals mentioned in court docket papers filed in Washington on Monday. Apple acquired an estimated $20 billion from its settlement with Google in 2022 alone.

Apple needs to name witnesses to testify at an April trial. Prosecutors will search to point out Google should take a number of measures, together with promoting its Chrome internet browser and doubtlessly its Android working system, to revive competitors in on-line search.

“Google can now not adequately characterize Apple’s pursuits: Google should now defend in opposition to a broad effort to interrupt up its enterprise models,” Apple mentioned.

The Division of Justice’s prosecution of Google is a landmark case that would reshape how customers discover on-line data.

Google has proposed to loosen its default agreements with browser builders, mobile-device producers and wi-fi carriers, however to not finish its agreements to share a portion of advert income Google generates from search.

A spokesperson for Google declined to touch upon Tuesday.