Court orders Google to limit default search and AI app deals to one year: Why it makes things ‘difficult’ for the Search giant

Google has got a setback in the Search antitrust case. A federal judge on Friday (December 5) ordered the company to restrict all contracts for default search and AI app placements to a maximum duration of one year. The ruling in a December 2025 judgment by Judge Amit Mehta of the US District Court of the District of Columbia means that the Search giant will not be able to make long-term deals that have helped it solidify its position across billions of devices globally.

According to the judgment, Alphabet’s Google must now renegotiate every default-placement agreement on a yearly basis. This includes deals with key partners like Apple’s iPhone and major manufacturers such as Samsung.