Google is fighting an antitrust case over its $20 billion annual payment to Apple, which has been set as the default search engine in Safari since 2009. The company argues that its deal with Apple will be banned for three years instead of ten, and proposes a new arrangement that could allow multiple default agreements across different platforms.
Under the current agreement, Google pays Apple for every search conducted by users through the Safari browser. This deal gives Google access to Apple’s vast user base, which is highly valuable for advertisers. In return, Apple benefits from free money, as it doesn’t have to pay for the cost of providing a default search engine.
However, an antitrust case filed by the Department of Justice argued that this payment gave Google an unfair advantage over smaller search engines. A court agreed with the DOJ’s claims and ordered Apple to ban the deal for 10 years. However, Google has proposed a counterargument, which could allow it to continue its deal with Apple.
Google suggests that allowing multiple default agreements across different platforms would give other search services more flexibility to compete with Google. One possible arrangement is for iPhone and iPad users to have different default search engines, potentially allowing Google to bid on one device while competitors bid on the other.
The proposal also includes provisions for browsers to continue offering Google Search to their users, while providing them with additional flexibility to change their default search provider at least every 12 months. This could potentially make it more realistic for competing search engines to bid for a slice of the market.
While Apple’s stance on consistent user experiences across devices makes this proposal less likely, there may be room for compromise in the court’s ruling. If Google succeeds, it will avoid losing $20 billion per year for the next few years.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2024/12/24/google-court-filing-makes-bizarre-suggestion-about-iphone-and-ipad