Google Calls DOJ’s Proposed Chrome Sale “Extreme”
Alphabet Inc.’s Google has vehemently opposed the U.S. Justice Department’s demand. The proposal to force the company to sell its Chrome web browser is labeled “extreme” and potentially stifling innovation.
In a court filing, Google argued that the DOJ’s proposed remedy is disproportionate. The remedy exceeds the anticompetitive conduct found by Judge Amit Mehta. The judge ruled that Google had unlawfully maintained its dominance in search. Google did this by paying device manufacturers. It also paid telecom carriers to make Google Search the default search engine on their devices.
Google contended that the Chrome sale doesn’t align with the company’s actual violations, which primarily involved exclusive contracts. The company emphasized that courts generally discourage extreme remedies. Any corrective action should be “of the same type or class” as the violations.
Google Proposes Alternative Remedy
Google proposed a remedy instead of selling Chrome. This remedy would allow competing browsers like Apple’s Safari to freely negotiate search engine partnerships. This would involve allowing device makers to preload multiple search engines and offer users greater choice.
Lee-Anne Mulholland is Google’s vice president for regulatory affairs. She stated in a blog post that the company’s proposal would still enable revenue-sharing with competing browsers. It would also provide more flexibility for device manufacturers.
DOJ Seeks Sweeping Changes
The Justice Department and a coalition of states previously requested Judge Mehta to order Google to sell Chrome. They also asked for other significant changes to its business practices. These changes aim to enhance competition in the online search market.
This case has significant implications for the tech industry, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of the search and browser markets.
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