A federal judge ruled that Google violated U.S. antitrust law by maintaining a monopoly in text search and advertising through restrictive contracts. The ruling doesn't specify remedies, so immediate changes are unlikely. This decision may lead to increased antitrust lawsuits and changes in Google's exclusive contracts. The discussion compares the case to Microsoft's antitrust issues and highlights the broader implications for the tech industry, concluding with a call for Google to focus on innovation.
Harvard’s Shane Greenstein breaks down the Google antitrust ruling, the future of search, and why the biggest tech companies may be due for a reckoning.
👤 Guest Bio: Shane Greenstein is the Martin Marshall Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and a leading expert on the economics of technology and innovation. His research explores how digital transformation reshapes business, markets, and society.
🧠 Topics Discussed:
💬 Top Quote:
"You can't do that unless you've got market power… They raised prices 20% year in, year out—and didn’t lose any advertisers. That’s pretty persuasive."
📺Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5rZIYiJZvGA