The courtroom drama may be over, but for the legal teams at Google and the Department of Justice, the most intense work is happening right now. Behind closed doors, they are engaged in high-stakes negotiations to define the future of search, with a critical deadline looming just six days away on September 10.
On the table is the monumental task of translating Judge Mehta’s verdict into a concrete operational plan. The biggest sticking point is data sharing. The DOJ will be pushing for broad, meaningful access for competitors, while Google’s team will be fighting to limit the scope, citing user privacy and trade secrets. Every word in this section of the agreement will be fiercely contested.
Another key area is defining the new rules for distribution deals. With “exclusivity” banned, what kinds of incentives and partnerships are still allowed? The DOJ will want to prevent any loopholes that allow Google to replicate its monopoly through other means, while Google will seek to preserve as much flexibility as possible.
The pressure is immense. The outcome of these negotiations will determine whether the verdict leads to real change or becomes a symbolic victory with little practical effect. Failure to agree means returning to the judge, a scenario both sides would likely prefer to avoid by finding some semblance of common ground this week.