Google의 법률 소송서는 iPhone과 iPad에 대한 이상한 제안을 내놓았습니다.

Google's legal documents claim that Apple can have different default search engines on its iPhone and iPad, and the company is trying to protect this with a $2 billion annual contract.

The annual compensation Google pays Apple for using Safari as its default search engine may be banned in an anti-trust lawsuit. However, search giants are offering several counter-proposals.

Google Pays Apple More Than $20 Billion Annually

If you enter a query into the unified Safari bar to perform a web search, it will (unless manually changed) be done by Google. This is because Google pays Apple millions of dollars annually for the right to use its browser.

This benefits Google as it allows them to place ads on their users' devices and also because of their high average income, which makes Apple customers particularly valuable demographic data for advertisers.

It's also a good deal for Apple, as they need to change settings, and Google is the most well-known search engine, so the company will likely do it.

The exact amount has never been made public, but while Apple hides service revenue inside, the result of an anti-trust lawsuit against Google revealed the annual amount in 2022, which was $2 billion.

The government claims this payment is illegal as it makes Google a unfair competitor to smaller search engines. And in summer, they agreed with the court's decision to ban this payment for 10 years.

Google Offers Counter-proposals Against Default Search Engine

According to legal procedures, Google can reject the prosecution's proposal and did so.

While acknowledging that a contract with Apple may be banned, they argue that it should only last for three years rather than 10. They believe that the technology industry is rapidly changing, especially with the emergence of generative AI, which makes it meaningless to continue dominating the industry solely based on today's dominance.

iPhone and iPad Can Have Different Search Engines

The company suggests leveraging more flexibility to allow other search services to compete with Apple's business. One remarkable proposal is that iPhone and iPad could have different default search engines. This means that Google wants one, while competitors want the other.

Our proposal allows browsers to continue providing Google search and earn revenue from partnerships, but it also provides additional flexibility for browsers. For example, multiple default contracts can be set up across various platforms like iPhones and iPads, and search modes can also be changed. Additionally, a feature allowing the basic search provider to be changed at least once every 12 months is included.

While Google has dominated the search industry so far, it argues that its influence may not last in the future. It acknowledges that people are already switching from traditional search engines to AI services and finds it difficult to predict what will happen in the future.

For example, before the iPhone was released, Nokia was dominating the smartphone industry. No one could have imagined that it would be unable to compete with any company seven years later. Therefore, while Google may seem safe now, its future dominance is uncertain.

Theoretically, breaking down basic search transactions into more detailed ones might make it more realistic for competitive search engines to invest in a slice of the pie. However, Apple prioritizes providing a consistent experience across all devices, making the concept of having different search engines on iPhone and iPad through contracts practically impossible.

There may still be debate over the court's ruling, and Google could reduce the 10-year ban condition proposed. However, it is clear that for the next few years, Apple will lose $2 billion annually.

Brendan London Shuck's photo, Unsplash