Google has violated US antitrust law according to a landmark ruling by US District Judge Amit Mehta in a federal case challenging the company's search business dominance.

The court found that Google maintained its monopoly through exclusive distribution contracts with browser developers, mobile device manufacturers, and wireless carriers. These agreements, secured through substantial payments, made Google the default search engine across key access points.

"Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly," Judge Mehta stated in his ruling, citing violations of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The decision highlighted how Google's default placements gave it "a major, largely unseen advantage over its rivals."

Key findings from the ruling:

• Google spent billions on exclusive contracts to secure default search engine status
• Deals with companies like Apple helped establish Google's dominant market position
• The company's practices led to anticompetitive behavior in search advertising

This ruling represents the first major federal decision in recent US government antitrust lawsuits against tech companies, drawing parallels to the landmark U.S. v. Microsoft case from 25 years ago.

The next phase will determine specific penalties for Google, though the company is expected to appeal the decision. This process could extend for months or years before final consequences are implemented.

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