Google's $2.3 million check helped the company get a trial by judge instead of jury

The government's lawyers included a damages claim in their lawsuit against Google to seek compensation for the harm caused by the alleged monopolistic practices in the adtech industry. By including a damages claim, the government aimed to hold Google accountable for any negative impact on competition and consumers that may have resulted from its dominant position in the market. Additionally, a successful damages claim could potentially increase the likelihood of Google settling the case.

If the government wins the antitrust lawsuit against Google, there could be several potential consequences for the company. It is important to note that the outcome of such a case can be complex and may vary depending on the specifics of the ruling. However, some possible outcomes include:

1. Breakup of the company: The lawsuit seeks to break up Google's alleged adtech monopoly. If the government is successful, this could result in the division of Google's advertising business from its other operations.

2. Changes to business practices: A victory for the government could force Google to amend its lucrative contracts with smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung. Regulators have targeted these contracts as anticompetitive, as they position Google as the default search engine on many devices and require smartphone makers to preinstall Google applications like Gmail, Chrome, and Maps6.

3. Increased competition: In the event of a federal victory, consumers and internet users could eventually benefit from a wider option of search engines as new competitors emerge to challenge Google's market dominance. This could happen faster if Google is split up into separate companies—similar to the breakup of AT&T in the 1980s—with each aiming to create its search engine and applications.

4. Monetary penalties: While the current lawsuit does not primarily seek monetary damages, if the government were to pursue such damages in the future, Google could face significant financial penalties.

5. Reputational damage: An unfavorable ruling could harm Google's reputation, potentially leading to decreased consumer trust and increased scrutiny from regulators in the future.

It is important to note that these are potential outcomes, and the actual consequences would depend on the specifics of the court's ruling and how both Google and the government choose to respond.