Google is appealing a recent antitrust ruling that deemed it a monopolist in search and advertising, following a case won by the U.S. Department of Justice in August 2024. The court ruled that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act by illegally maintaining monopolies. Central to the case was Google's agreement with Apple, which set Google as the default search engine in Apple's Safari browser across devices like iPhones and iPads. This deal reportedly earned Apple around $20 billion in 2022. Although the court allowed Google to continue paying Apple for this placement, it imposed new restrictions, including a 12-month limit on default agreements and prohibiting exclusivity. In its appeal, Google contends that the district court erred by viewing its agreements as exclusionary and argues that the arrangement with Apple is a result of lawful competition, highlighting user preference for Google over rivals like Bing. Google asserts that Apple's choice was based on the quality of its search engine, which Apple executives deemed a “no brainer.”