Federal Judge Rules Google Not Required to Sell Chrome Amid Antitrust Case

A federal judge ruled that Google does not have to sell Chrome as part of an antitrust case. The company will still be allowed to operate Chrome and enter into revenue-sharing agreements with other companies, such as Apple. However, Google is barred from certain activities, including requiring companies to use its apps to access the Play Store and sharing all data with competitors. Despite this, investors are reacting positively to the ruling, with Alphabet and Apple's stocks rising in aftermarket trading.

A federal judge ruled that Google will not be required to sell its Chrome browser as part of an antitrust case, a decision that has been well-received by investors. The ruling, handed down by Judge Amit Mehta, allows Google to continue operating Chrome and enter into revenue-sharing agreements with other companies, such as Apple. However, the company is barred from certain activities, including requiring companies to use its apps to access the Play Store and sharing all data with competitors [1].

The ruling comes after a long-standing legal battle between Google and the U.S. Department of Justice. Last year, Judge Mehta ruled that Google held an illegal monopoly in online search and related advertising. Despite this, the judge fell short of the prosecutors' push to force Google to divest Chrome, stating that the company could not enter exclusive contracts for search, but that it could not be forced to sell the browser [1].

Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed concerns at the trial that the data-sharing measures sought by the U.S. Department of Justice could enable competitors to reverse-engineer its technology. The company has said it plans to appeal the ruling, which means any remedies could come years in the future [2].

Investors reacted positively to the ruling, with Alphabet and Apple's stocks rising in aftermarket trading. Alphabet's shares jumped nearly 8% after hours, while Apple's stock also saw gains [3].

The ruling is just one of several antitrust cases Google is facing. In September, the company will go to trial in a separate case brought by the Justice Department, where a judge found the company holds illegal monopolies in online advertising technology. Additionally, Google is continuing to fight a ruling it lost against Epic Games, which required changes to its Play app store [2].

Despite the legal challenges, Alphabet's strong financial performance remains a positive factor for investors. The company's Class C shares, which are under scrutiny due to the antitrust case, have a Strong Buy consensus rating with an average price target of $217.25 per share, suggesting a modest upside potential of 1.7% [4].

References:
[1] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4491426-google-not-required-to-sell-chrome-in-antitrust-remedy-ruling-shares-jump
[2] https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/us-judge-orders-google-share-search-data-with-competitors-2025-09-02/
[3] https://www.thestreet.com/investing/alphabet-stock-soars-after-antitrust-judge-rules-that-google-can-keep-chrome-android
[4] https://www.ainvest.com/news/alphabet-class-faces-antitrust-battle-stock-outlook-legal-challenges-2509/