A federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia, has ruled that the antitrust case against Google regarding its advertising technology will proceed to trial in September. The decision came after both the Justice Department and Google had hoped for a summary judgment in their favor, which was denied by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema.
During a hearing on unrelated matters, Judge Brinkema emphasized that there are disputed facts in the case, making it necessary for a trial to determine the outcome. The lawsuit accuses Google of violating federal antitrust laws by establishing a monopoly in online advertising technology.
Originally, the Justice Department had requested a jury trial, but Judge Brinkema opted for a bench trial, where she will be the one to decide whether Google has engaged in unlawful practices. This decision follows a separate case in the District of Columbia where Google is awaiting a ruling on whether its search engine constitutes an illegal monopoly.
The trial date has been set for September 9, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between the government and Google over alleged antitrust violations.