Google Wins Key Antitrust Ruling, Ad Business Avoids Breakup

A federal judge on Wednesday rejected the U.S. Department of Justice's request to break up Google's online advertising business, marking a historic end to nearly two decades of antitrust risk for Alphabet Inc. Judge Leonie Brinkema, who last year ruled that Google illegally monopolized the ad tech market for websites, opted for less drastic remedies. She issued a two-page order adopting alternative measures to limit Google's control over publishers' use of its ad technology, rather than forcing a sale of its ad exchange platform. The DOJ had argued that divestiture was the only way to curb Google's market power and open the door to competition. The ruling reflects judges' longstanding reluctance to break up companies, considering such remedies too aggressive.