A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Alphabet's Google violated antitrust laws by maintaining a monopoly over online searches and related advertisements.

The ruling follows a comprehensive 10-week trial that included testimonies from top executives at Google, Microsoft, and Apple, highlighting the competitive dynamics in the tech industry.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified about the challenges posed by Google's exclusive agreements with companies like Apple, which he argued made it nearly impossible for Bing to compete.

Judge Amit Mehta emphasized Google's substantial financial investments, including $20 billion paid to Apple in 2022 to remain the default search engine for Safari, as evidence of its monopolistic behavior.

Experts suggest that potential remedies from the ruling could range from minor adjustments to significant changes, including the possible divestiture of Google's search business.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland hailed the ruling as a historic victory for the American public, reinforcing the principle that no company is above the law.

This decision is part of a broader trend of increased scrutiny of Big Tech, with similar antitrust lawsuits filed against other giants like Apple and Amazon.

Google is also facing additional legal challenges, including a trial concerning its advertising technology set to begin in September, indicating ongoing scrutiny of its market practices.

Following the ruling, Alphabet's stock fell by over 4%, reflecting investor concerns amidst broader financial market challenges.

Legal experts believe the judge's decision reflects a limited ability to address market dynamics due to existing U.S. monopoly laws.

The ruling noted a lack of genuine competition in the search engine market, as many partners find it financially unfeasible to switch away from Google.

Mehta acknowledged that default settings significantly impact market share, citing Microsoft's Bing's success on its Edge browser as evidence that alternatives can thrive without Google's dominance.