Google’s Search Remedies Verdict, A Big Win for Apple, What Was Wall Street Expecting?
Hello everyone. Today’s update will be dedicated to discussing the U.S. v. Google search remedies verdict. Let’s jump right in.
Google’s Search Remedies Verdict
Overall, this verdict was a major win for Google. The Court didn’t even take a middle-of-the-road path with a judgement tailored in such a way so that both sides could claim themselves as winners.
Google does not need to divest Chrome / Android.
Google can continue to pay for default (search) placement.
Based on Google’s response to the verdict, they will continue with their appeal of the initial antitrust ruling. As we will discuss shortly, that stance makes sense. If given the choice, Google would not want to follow a few of the remedies that the Court ruled on. However, looking at the Court’s ruling in its entirety, this verdict represents a huge sigh of relief for Google.
AI mania played a major role in how the Court’s remedies were crafted.
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A Google TAC Fire Drill, The Quibi Hedge, Jony Ive Collaborates With Airbnb
Today's Above Avalon daily update includes the following stories:
A Google TAC Fire Drill
The Quibi Hedge
Jony Ive Collaborates With Airbnb
We kick off today’s update with my thoughts on new concerns involving the impact Google traffic acquisition costs (TAC) payments have on Apple’s Services business and financials. The discussion includes my estimates for Google TAC payments sent to Apple on an annual basis. The update then turns to Quibi shutting down. Lost in the sea of hot takes was any discussion about what Quibi was actually trying to do in the video streaming space and details surrounding the company shutting down. We conclude with news of Airbnb becoming a client of Jony Ive's LoveFrom design studio. In particular, we go over a few reasons why I’m skeptical about the development.
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