Hello everyone! Today, let’s dive into a fascinating story about big tech and legal battles.

In a recent courtroom showdown, a federal judge concluded that Google unlawfully acquired and held onto monopoly power in the advertising tech sector. This case has been brewing for two years, involving the US government and several states filing initial charges.

The court is now setting the stage for potential remedies, which could include breaking up Google’s ad business—like selling off its Google Ad Manager, including the AdX ad exchange and DFP platform. Alternatively, the court might impose rules to ensure fair play, such as preventing Google from favoring its own services during auctions.

Interestingly, this isn’t Google’s first legal ride; last year, another judge found that Google illegally monopolized the general internet search market. While remedies are pending in that case, the ad tech case’s judge has detailed violations under the Sherman Act, mainly monopolizing and unlawfully tying parts of the ad tech stack, such as DFP and AdX.

The court also highlighted that Google engaged in abusing its dominant position related to publisher-side ad tech. The story is still developing, so stay tuned for more updates on this dramatic legal saga!