U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta rejected Apple's emergency request to halt a Google search monopoly trial that could undermine Apple's lucrative search business.Judge Mehta issued the order late Sunday, saying Apple had yet to provide satisfactory reasons for its emergency stay motion filed on January 30.
Apple said last week that Google search is worth $18 billion a year to it. It needs to participate in this trial because it doesn't want to lose "the ability to defend its right to enter into other arrangements with Google that could benefit millions of users, as well as Apple's right to be compensated for distributing Google Search to its users."
Lawyers from the U.S. Department of Justice say Google should be forced to sell the Chrome browser and possibly spin off Android if necessary. While Google will still appeal the ruling, the company's proposed remedies mainly involve rescinding licensing deals that bundle apps and services together.
Judge Mehta's order dismissed Apple's motion because it did not meet the "strict requirements" for "extraordinary relief" to stay pending appeal. Mehta explained that Apple "has not demonstrated a likelihood of success" in its appeal for a stay. This included a lack of clear evidence of how Apple would suffer "certain and substantial" harm.
Google was found responsible for illegally monopolizing general search. The remedial phase of the trial will be held in April, and Google's Android, Chrome browser and search businesses may be split up.