Judge blocks DOJ breakup of Google's ad marketplace
A federal judge rejected the Justice Department's request to force Google to sell its AdX marketplace, even though she previously ruled that Google operated illegal monopolies in two online ad markets. Judge Leonie Brinkema ordered adoption of most proposed behavioral remedies from the DOJ and state plaintiffs but did not specify which measures, and she denied demands to publish AdX source code. The ruling preserves Google's AdX — where it charged a reported 20% fee for real-time sales — and shifts the case toward unspecified conduct remedies, prompting criticism from watchdogs and calls for congressional structural reforms.
Judge rejected DOJ divestiture but ordered unspecified behavioral remedies
Context
Brinkema had earlier ruled in April 2025 that Google violated the Sherman Act in two ad markets. The DOJ sought divestiture of AdX and publication of source code. The court refused divestiture and code publication and said remedies will…
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