Google's antitrust victory let it continue paying Apple billions to be the iPhone's search engine, but the DOJ is of course now appealing against the ruling.
In August 2024, Judge Amit Metha initially ruled that Google is a monopoly, backing the Department of Justice's accusation. However, in September 2025, he imposed few limits on Google, and left it's $20 billion a year deal with Apple untouched.
Now according to Reuters, the DOJ is to appeal that ruling. It's the Justice Department and also an as-yet unspecified group of US states that are appealing the case.
There are reportedly no specifics about the appeal in the court documents that have been filed so far. It's possible that this means the DOJ and states want a blanket appeal over every element of the ruling.
However, it's reportedly expected that the appeal will focus on the deal with Apple, and also how Judge Metha decided not to make Google sell off its Chrome browser. Selling off Chrome was a key part of the DOJ's response to the original ruling about Google being an advertising monopoly.
It's not a surprise that the DOJ would appeal the decision, and Google itself is still appealing against elements of the original ruling.
But it means that the deal with Apple remains in question. During the court case, Apple's Eddy Cue tried to diminish the significance of that deal, saying that the company was looking at whether AI search would replace Google on the iPhone.
At the same time, Cue said that searches through Google had declined for the first time. As the case progressed, Apple also elected not to add Google Gemini to Apple Intelligence in early 2025, despite code references in the then-forthcoming iOS 18.4.
Following the case, Apple and Google have strengthened their relationship and Google Gemini will be used significantly in the new Siri.
As the DOJ appeal has just been filed, there are no details yet of a schedule for any hearing. Based on other cases, though, it is reportedly likely to be a year before the case progresses.
