Apple: It’s a “mistake” to assume that we want to create our own search engine

While we await the judge’s ruling on the penalties that will be applied to Google after the historic court ruling, the company has maintained Illegal monopoly on online searchwe’re learning more about Apple’s role in what might come next.

Google has long provided the default search engine in Safari, Apple’s web browser, paying Apple a percentage of revenue generated by Google searches originating on iPhones, iPads, Macs and other devices — an arrangement that in 2022 amounted to $20 billion According to A File a court declaration On December 23 by Eddy Cue, senior vice president of services at Apple.

A change in this relationship is one possible outcome of the Google antitrust case.

But in his announcement, Q objected to proposed remedies that he said would interfere with Apple’s ability to deliver products that best serve its users.

“From what I understand, Plaintiffs’ proposed remedies assume that without a revenue-sharing agreement or other commercial terms with Google, Apple will develop its own search engine or enter the text-based search advertising market,” Keogh wrote. “Apple’s witnesses can provide testimony and evidence explaining why this assumption is wrong.”

Cue gave three main reasons why Apple didn’t want to create a search engine. First, it would divert Apple’s attention, money, and employees away from core Apple products. Second, due to advances in artificial intelligence, the search engine market is developing very quickly, and jumping into it at this stage would be economically risky. Third, he wrote that Apple doesn’t have enough talent or the right infrastructure to compete in advertising.

The logic is logical. Microsoft has It spent between $80 billion and $100 billion Bing only has to capture about 10% of the market while Google controls the other 90%. It took Bing Six years to make its first profit.

It will take some time before this issue is resolved. A two-week trial of the treatments is scheduled for April.

The Justice Department, which brought the antitrust case against Google, has made a number of recommendations to create a more level playing field in search — including ending agreements Google has with companies like Apple and Samsung for its own search engine. On their phones.

Keogh said that if the court halted Google’s payments, it would give Apple “two unacceptable options.” It would have to give Google access to Apple’s user base for free or Apple would have to remove Google Search from Safari and look for deals elsewhere, even if Apple users prefer Google Search. Cue asked the court to allow Apple to testify to ensure that Google’s monopoly remedies do not harm other companies.

The Department of Justice’s recommendations are also included Google sells its Chrome browser Its phone operating system is Android.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.