LONDON: Tech giant Google paid $1 billion to be the default search engine on your browser.
That was the previously unknown revelation in a Jan. 14 court hearing around a completely unrelated issue: Oracle’s lawsuit against Google for a long-running and very boring copyright dispute about whether Google borrowed Oracle’s Java technology to build Android phones.
The documents show that Google paid Apple $1 billion in 2014 to be the preferred search engine on the iPhone, reported Bloomberg News. The two companies then agreed to share revenue — presumably from search ads — but it’s not clear how the money was split.
Apple and Google both lobbied the court to strike the details of their search deal from court documents, Bloomberg reported, with Google arguing it was “highly sensitive.” When Google asked the court to hide the details of the deal, it said the information could hinder similar deals with other companies, indicating that Google has muscled its way into default status on other platforms as well.
There is no mention of the arrangement — and no mention of Apple at all — in Google’s most recent quarterly report to shareholders, which is designed to mention any “material,” or important, business arrangements publicly. It’s not clear if Google considers the $1 billion arrangement “material.”
The blockbuster deal between Apple and Google shows how Google, which made $66 billion in revenue in 2014, can keep buying its way to search supremacy against rivals.
There was a report in 2014 that Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo, was trying to get her own company’s product to be the default search engine on iPhones, but she did not succeed.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription
