Lawsuit filed alleging Google is paying Apple to stay out of the search business (prnewswire.com)

Article summary

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Google and Apple, alleging that the companies have a non-compete agreement in the internet search business. The complaint claims that Google pays Apple to not compete in the search market and that this agreement suppresses competition and leads to higher advertising rates. The lawsuit seeks to end the non-compete agreement and potentially break up Google and Apple into separate companies. The case is currently in its early stages and it is unclear what evidence the plaintiffs will present to support their claims.

Main themes

• antitrust lawsuit
• non-compete agreement
• search engine market
• monopoly and competition
• tech industry regulation
• consumer choice and innovation

What commenters say

• The lawsuit's claims may not be supported by evidence and the case may be dismissed.
• Even if the lawsuit fails, it may still reveal internal emails and other information through the discovery process.
• Apple's potential entry into the search market could be anti-competitive if they default to their own search engine and do not allow users to change it.
• Google's control over the Android operating system and its requirement that manufacturers install certain Google apps may be seen as anti-competitive.
• The concept of a monopoly is not solely determined by market share, but also by the presence of viable alternatives and competition.
• Apple's ecosystem can be difficult for users to escape, but it is not impossible and there are alternative products and services available.
• The definition of a monopoly and what constitutes anti-competitive behavior is a matter of debate and can depend on the specific market and circumstances.
• The collaboration between Google and Apple may limit consumer choice and stifle innovation, even if they do not have a traditional monopoly.