| The second suit, which is still ongoing, claims that Google also has a monopoly over internet advertising.
That suit is ongoing.
Now, I’m not an expert on Google’s business practices and I won’t pretend to be one. I’m certain they’ve engaged in some shady and aggressive business tactics as almost all large, successful companies have.
Personally, I think the line between that and the kind of oppressive “robber baron” tactics of the Industrial Revolution is pretty clear, and I’m not sure the government needs to be in the business of breaking up the former… but I’m not even here to focus on that.
My point is that this is a HUGE story for the tech sector that investors need to watch closely.
Now, here’s what won’t happen: Google won’t disappear, it won’t just cease to exist overnight. It will still be a trillion-plus dollar company.
But its nature might be fundamentally altered by the settlement or verdict, if, ultimately, punishments are inflicted. The government could move to alter Google’s business practices or break Google’s departments into distinct businesses altogether.
And if it happens to Google, then doubtlessly, Apple, Microsoft, and others are all in line. There is already a suit against Apple for monopolizing phones.
So watch this carefully. You don’t have to read every 250 page legal decision to stay informed, but keep an eye on it because it could send shockwaves through the tech sector.
To your prosperity,
Stephen Ground
Editor-in-Chief, ProsperityPub
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