Apple seeks to defend Google’s billion-dollar payments in search case

Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab, has asked to participate in Google’s upcoming US antitrust trial over online search, claiming that it cannot rely on Google to defend revenue-sharing agreements that pay the iPhone maker billions of dollars per year for making Google the default search engine in its Safari browser.

Apple does not intend to establish its own search engine, opens new tab to compete with Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O). Google, whether or whether the payments continue, the company’s lawyers stated in court documents filed in Washington on Monday. Apple earned an estimated $20 billion from its partnership with Google in 2022 alone.

Apple intends to bring witnesses to testify at an April trial. Prosecutors will argue that Google must take numerous steps, including selling its Chrome web browser and even its Android operating system, to restore competition in online search.
“Google can no longer adequately represent Apple’s interests: Google must now defend against a broad effort to break up its business units,” the company claimed.The Department of Justice’s pursuit against Google is a watershed moment that might change how people obtain information online.

Google has suggested loosening its default agreements with browser developers, mobile device makers, and cellular carriers while maintaining its agreements to split a percentage of search ad income. A Google spokeswoman declined to comment on Tuesday.