Washington — The Computer & Communications Industry Association, together with the Chamber of Progress, has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia in U.S. vs Google, explaining that several of the remedies proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and its state co-plaintiffs would suppress competition, hamper innovation, and deprive consumers of better technology.
Last year, Judge Amit Mehta concluded that Google violated U.S. antitrust laws by entering into distribution agreements that established Google as the default search engine for third-party web browsers and mobile devices. In its proposal, the DOJ has suggested various remedies that could go as far as breaking up a number of Google’s services, going far beyond the scope of Judge Mehta’s ruling.
CCIA’s amicus brief urges the Court to affirm the important principles of antitrust law, and to adopt remedies that are proportionate and promote innovation, competition, and consumers’ welfare.
The following can be attributed to CCIA President Matt Schruers:
“At a time when U.S. digital services are in fierce competition for global technology leadership, structural remedies that weaken U.S. companies may risk handing an economic advantage to adversaries abroad. Remedies that are overly broad and prescriptive could risk harming consumers and hindering innovation.”
