Apple Seeks Participation in Google's Antitrust Trial

By Jody Godoy

(Reuters) – Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has requested to participate in Google's upcoming U.S. antitrust trial concerning online search. They argue that they cannot rely on Google to defend revenue-sharing agreements that provide Apple with billions annually for making Google the default search engine on its Safari browser.

Apple does not intend to develop a competing search engine against Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)'s Google, regardless of whether the revenue payments continue, as stated by the company's lawyers in court documents filed in Washington on Monday. In 2022 alone, Apple estimated it received $20 billion from its agreement with Google.

Apple aims to call witnesses to testify in an April trial, where prosecutors will argue that Google needs to undertake significant changes, including selling its Chrome web browser or its Android operating system, to foster competition in online search.

"Google can no longer adequately represent Apple’s interests: Google must now defend against a broad effort to break up its business units," Apple claimed.
The Department of Justice's trial against Google is a landmark case with potential to transform how users access online information.

Google has suggested loosening its default agreements with browser developers, mobile-device manufacturers, and wireless carriers, but has not proposed ending its agreements that share a portion of ad revenue generated from search.

A spokesperson for Google declined to provide a comment on Tuesday.