Judge spares Google’s ad-tech business from a breakup

In April 2025, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) celebrated its victory in a major antitrust lawsuit against Google's ad technology business. However, just last week, US District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema overturned the DoJ's efforts to force Google to break up its AdX ad exchange. The case began as a significant anti-monopoly win but has now turned into a minor settlement.

This scenario mirrors a previous antitrust case against Google in search, where the company was initially accused of abusing its power, but ultimately avoided divesting its Chrome browser or Android operating system. Google's search market dominance continues to expand, reaching 91.1% in August 2025 based on Statcounter's data.

The remedies phase of the government's ad-tech antitrust case against Google has resulted in similar positive outcomes for the company. The court has not overturned the April 2025 finding that Google unlawfully maintained monopolies in the publisher ad-server and ad-exchange markets, nor has it required the company to open-source its DoubleClick for Publishers (DFP) ad server's final-auction logic or divest itself of DFP.

Instead, Judge Brinkema has accepted most of the proposed behavioral remedies suggested by both parties, with some modifications outlined in a sealed memorandum opinion.

Google and the plaintiffs are now required to meet and submit a joint proposed final judgment within 30 days. If they cannot agree, each side must submit their own proposals. Google sees this outcome as favorable, stating that the court did not force the company to break apart essential tools for small businesses. The Department of Justice, however, views this as a step closer to restoring competition and benefiting American consumers in online advertising markets.

Legal experts argue that Google's ad business will not significantly change despite the court's ruling. With its monopoly power intact, Google continues to dominate the search and ad-tech markets, while critics suggest that the remedies imposed are insufficient to truly address the illegal acquisitions and maintenance of monopolies in these areas.

The specific obligations Google will face remain undisclosed as Judge Brinkema's explanatory opinion remains under seal. Regardless, Google's advertising revenue reached $81.6 billion in its last reported quarter, with projections suggesting a further increase next year.