Apple sued over cosy search partnership with Google

Google’s deal with Apple, which ensures that it remains the default search engine in Safari across all Apple devices, is the subject of a new class-action lawsuit against both companies and their CEOs.

According to details, Google pays large sums every year to Apple to ensure it remains the default search provider on iPhone, iPad and Mac.

However, a lawsuit filed in California this week alleges that the two Silicon Valley giants have a non-compete agreement in internet search that violates U.S. antitrust laws and prevents Apple from launching a search engine of its own. 

According to the lawsuit, the two technology companies have violated US competition laws on a number of counts through a series of agreements. 

It's long been known that Google pays large amount to Apple each year, but the latter has also allegedly agreed to actively discourage potential competitors.

According to an August 2021 report, Google’s most recent payment to Apple was around $15 billion and that’s expected to rise to around $20 billion this year.

That’s if Apple and Google can keep the partnership alive. A new class-action lawsuit hopes to prevent that — and finally reveal the details of the actual sums paid by Google — by going after both companies and their CEOs.

The complaint calls for an injunction prohibiting the agreement between Apple and Google. Plus, it demands disclosure of the exact fees involved in the deal. It also calls for the breakup of both companies.

It is pertinent to mention here that this isn’t the first time a lawsuit has been filed targeting Apple and Google’s search agreement. 

Authorities haven’t turned a blind eye to it, either, with regulators in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia all eyeing antitrust investigations.