The likelihood of an appeals court overturning US District Judge Amit Mehta’s remedy decision in the United States v. Google search engine monopoly case is low, according to antitrust and business litigation attorneys.
After finding Google liable for alleged anticompetitive conduct in the US internet search market, Judge Mehta ruled Google must share search index and user-interaction data with rival search engines and prohibited Google from entering into exclusive distribution agreements.
Robin Crauthers spoke with The National Law Journal and described Mehta’s decision as “well-reasoned.”
“There is little room for a strong appellate argument,” Crauthers said. “There doesn’t seem to be a lot of room. If I am in Google’s shoes I am not sure I would appeal. The remedies are very narrowly tailored. Going back to the well could end up in a worse place for Google.”