Alphabet (GOOGL) is pushing back against a key part of a U.S. court ruling that could reshape how online search works. Last year, a federal judge ruled that Google held an illegal monopoly in online search. As a result, the judge ordered several changes meant to open the market to rivals.
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Now, Google is asking the court to delay one major requirement while it appeals the decision. Specifically, the company wants to pause any order that would force it to share search data with competitors, including AI firms such as OpenAI.
Meanwhile, GOOGL shares dropped 0.84% on Friday, closing at $330.
Why Google Is Fighting the Data Order
Google argues that its search data is a core business asset. According to court filings, sharing that data could expose trade secrets that cannot be recovered if Google later wins its appeal. For that reason, the company says the risk is permanent and unfair.
At the same time, Google said it will comply with other parts of the ruling. These include limits on contracts that allow Google apps, such as its Gemini AI tool, to be preloaded on devices. Those deals would now be capped at one year.
What Comes Next
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice and a group of states must decide by February 3 whether to appeal the ruling. Regulators had pushed for stronger steps, including forcing Google to sell its Chrome browser and end large payments to Apple (AAPL) and others to remain the default search engine.
So far, the court has rejected those tougher remedies. That means Google has avoided a breakup, at least for now. Looking ahead, the appeal could take months or longer. During that time, the outcome may shape how search, ads, and AI tools compete across the tech sector.
Is Google Stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell?
On the Street, Alphabet maintains a Strong Buy consensus among analysts, with an average GOOGL stock price target of $342.39. This implies a 3.75% upside from the current price.
