Google sends 36% of advertising revenue from Apple's Safari web browser to Apple

Google's payment to become the go-to search engine has been revealed in a US court trial where the company is defending itself against monopoly allegations. 

An expert witness disclosed that 36% of Google's advertising revenue from Apple's Safari web browser is sent back to Apple, highlighting the central role their relationship plays in the monopoly case. 

Google's lead lawyer showed visible discomfort when the specific share of ad revenue was disclosed. The trial, which began in September, carries high stakes as it pits Google against the US Department of Justice. 

The payments made by Google to other companies, including Apple, Samsung, and Mozilla, to secure default search engine status amount to over $26 billion. University of Chicago professor Kevin Murphy testified that these substantial sums demonstrate the intense competition in the market, supporting Google's argument. 

The trial is expected to conclude in the coming days with the testimony of witnesses such as Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The US Department of Justice is seeking significant penalties, aiming to end anti-competitive practices. 

A ruling against Google could have significant implications for the tech industry, even if the company is not forced to break up. Judge Amit Mehta, overseeing the trial, is not expected to deliver a verdict until early next year.

- CyberBeat