Google Challenges Monopoly Ruling: Trade Secrets at Risk

Alphabet's Google has requested a judge to delay a ruling enforcing the company to share data with rivals while it appeals a decision declaring its monopoly in online search illegal. If forced to comply, Google risks exposing trade secrets despite appealing the ruling to halt data sharing.

Alphabet's Google is taking legal measures to delay a court ruling that mandates data sharing with competitors, as the company is accused of maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta's decision has been contested by Google, who plans to appeal.

Google argues that compliance with the ruling could jeopardize its trade secrets if the decision is overturned on appeal. The company seeks a pause only on the data-sharing requirement, not on other stipulations like restricting preloading app contracts to one year.

The U.S. Department of Justice and various states must decide by early February if they will challenge the ruling's leniency, which dismissed demands for Google to divest its Chrome browser and cease hefty payments to device makers for setting its search engine as default.

(With inputs from agencies.)