Yes—but the Apple–Google agreement has not been shown to be terminated or currently banned. The U.S. Department of Justice and participating states filed a July 28, 2026 cross-appeal arguing that the remedy in the Google search-monopoly case may be too weak, including because the lower court did not adequately decide whether Google’s payments to distributors such as Apple should be prohibited. Google has filed its own appeal challenging the underlying liability ruling. The result is a real legal risk to the Safari default-search arrangement, not an immediate cancellation.
What is being appealed?
There are two related appeals in the same federal antitrust case. Judge Amit Mehta ruled in August 2024 that Google illegally maintained monopolies in general search and search advertising. The court then addressed remedies separately.
Google’s appeal
Google argues that the liability decision made legal and factual errors and treated distribution agreements as unlawful exclusion rather than competition. Its public position is that Apple and other browser makers selected Google because users prefer its search quality, not because payments unlawfully blocked rivals. Google announced its appeal in January 2026 and later filed it; Reuters reported the filing on May 22, 2026. Google’s explanation; Reuters report
DOJ and states’ cross-appeal
The government is not simply retrying liability. Its July 28 filing challenges whether the December 2025 remedy provides complete and effective relief. The government argues that the district court did not adequately determine whether a ban on payments to distributors is necessary. DOJ appellate filings; MLex summary
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How the Apple–Google arrangement works
Google is the default general-search engine in Safari in important markets, including on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Google pays Apple under a revenue-sharing arrangement for distribution and default placement. The arrangement is generally described as nonexclusive: users can change Safari’s search engine.
The antitrust question is not merely whether Google pays Apple. It is whether the payment and default position reinforce Google’s market power by making it harder for rivals to reach users through a major search-access point. Court materials describe Google’s payment to Apple as approximately $20 billion in 2022; that historical figure should not be treated as a verified 2026 contract amount. D.C. Circuit opinion; DOJ response brief
Timeline of the dispute
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 5, 2024 | Judge Mehta finds Google liable for illegally maintaining monopolies in online search and related advertising. |
| May 2025 | Remedies trial takes place. |
| December 5, 2025 | District court enters the final judgment. |
| January 16, 2026 | Google announces its appeal. |
| May 22, 2026 | Reuters reports Google’s appellate filing. |
| July 28, 2026 | DOJ and states file their cross-appeal brief. |
| August 18, 2026 | Publicly available proceedings remain unresolved. |
What the December 5, 2025 remedy does—and does not—do
The final judgment restricts certain exclusive distribution arrangements and addresses default status, partner restrictions, data access and search syndication. The DOJ says Google cannot condition some application-licensing or revenue-sharing arrangements on placing or maintaining Google Search, Chrome, Google Assistant or Gemini, and cannot bar partners from distributing competing products. DOJ remedies announcement
It does not amount to a blanket statement that Google may no longer pay Apple. The government had sought broader restrictions, including payment-related relief, but the district court adopted a narrower judgment. The cross-appeal is what has put that unresolved payment question back at the center of the case. DOJ proposed-remedy summary; DOJ revised proposed judgment; DOJ response brief
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What could happen next?
1. The existing remedy is affirmed
The Apple arrangement could continue, subject to the judgment’s rules on exclusivity, competing products, data access and syndication. Payments would not automatically be prohibited merely because they exist.
2. The remedy is sent back or strengthened
The appeals court could require the district court to reconsider whether Google must stop paying distributors for default or preferential placement. A remand would not necessarily order Apple and Google to terminate their contract immediately; implementation could involve further proceedings, stays or compliance instructions.
3. Google wins materially on liability
If the underlying monopoly ruling is reversed, the foundation for the remedies could weaken substantially. The precise consequences would depend on the appellate decision.
What a payment ban could mean for Apple
Apple could lose or see reduced a large, high-margin services-related revenue stream. The frequently cited approximately $20 billion figure is for 2022 court materials, not a confirmed current annual payment. Apple might seek replacement revenue, promote another provider, renegotiate Safari’s default structure or invest more in search and AI capabilities.
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A payment ban would not automatically make Apple a full-scale search competitor. Operating a global index requires infrastructure, ranking technology, advertising systems, regional coverage and ongoing engineering. Apple could instead choose another provider, offer a multi-provider choice screen or develop a narrower answer or AI product.
What it could mean for Google and rival search engines
Google could lose default access to an important Apple distribution channel or have to compete for placement without its current payment model. That could raise user-acquisition costs and increase pressure to win users through product quality, privacy and integration.
Potential alternatives include Microsoft Bing, DuckDuckGo, Brave Search, Ecosia and AI-oriented search products. Their ability to replace Google’s payment is a separate question from their technical ability to appear in Safari. Apple would have to weigh ranking quality, index scale, advertising economics, privacy commitments, regional availability, infrastructure costs, operating-system integration and regulatory risk.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What users might notice
If a stronger remedy takes effect, users could see a different Safari default, a more prominent search-engine choice screen or greater visibility for rival services. Siri, Spotlight and search suggestions could also be affected depending on Apple’s integration choices.
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Those changes are possibilities, not established outcomes. A court could affirm the current remedy, implementation could be delayed, or Apple and Google could renegotiate before the litigation ends. The case does not establish that users will receive better or worse results.
Why this is not already an Apple antitrust case
The core defendant is Google. Apple matters because it is a major distribution partner whose agreement may be affected by the remedy. The public record supports renewed scrutiny of Google’s payment and default strategy, but it does not establish that Apple’s contract has already been declared illegal in its entirety, that Apple has lost the deal or that Apple will switch to Bing or build its own search engine.
What to watch
- Whether the appellate court requires a new analysis of distributor payments.
- Whether any order distinguishes exclusive payments from nonexclusive commercial arrangements.
- Whether the remedy applies differently across countries, devices, operating systems or browsers.
- Whether Apple and Google renegotiate before a final appellate mandate.
- Whether implementation is stayed or delayed after an appellate ruling.
The Bottom Line
The Apple–Google search deal is legally exposed but not currently known to be void or prohibited. The DOJ’s July 28, 2026 cross-appeal could lead to a stronger remedy targeting Google’s distributor payments, while Google’s own appeal could undermine the case. Until the appellate court rules and any remand is implemented, Safari’s Google default and Apple’s related revenue stream remain in place.
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