The dust has settled on the landmark antitrust trial, and one stark fact remains: Google is now, by official U.S. court decree, an illegal monopolist. While the company avoided a breakup, this legal branding is a permanent stain that will have lasting consequences for how it operates and how it is regulated worldwide.
First, this verdict provides a legal foundation for future lawsuits. Other companies or individuals who feel harmed by Google’s practices can now point to this ruling as proof of its market power and history of anti-competitive conduct, making it easier to bring their own cases.
Second, it invites intense scrutiny from global regulators. Authorities in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere will be emboldened by the U.S. court’s finding. They may launch new investigations or impose their own fines and restrictions, using the American verdict as justification.
Finally, it changes the dynamic within the company itself. Google’s lawyers will now have to vet every new product launch and partnership deal with extreme caution, knowing that any move that could be perceived as extending its monopoly will be immediately challenged. The company has won the battle to stay whole, but it has entered a new era of permanent legal vulnerability.