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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesNo—not under the judgment now in force. The Justice Department asked the court to make Google sell Chrome and sought restrictions on Android, with possible Android divestiture if lesser remedies failed. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia’s December 5, 2025 final judgment ordered no immediate Chrome or Android sale. Instead, it imposed limits on distribution agreements, required certain data sharing and search syndication, and created a technical oversight process that can pursue additional structural relief if the remedies do not work or are circumvented.
What “must divest Chrome” means in this case
“Must divest Chrome” describes the DOJ’s proposed remedy, not a completed or presently scheduled sale. In its March 7, 2025 revised proposed final judgment, the department asked the court to require Google to sell Chrome, including assets or services needed to complete the transaction.
The same proposal addressed Android. It sought to stop Google from using Android and other related products to give its search services preferential access, and it contemplated Android divestiture as contingent structural relief if the initial remedies proved inadequate or were circumvented.
The court ultimately chose a different remedy package. The signed judgment does not require Google to sell Chrome, and it does not order an immediate Android sale.
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- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan: Works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers[2]
- Stay informed without looking at your screen: When your phone is face down, Pixel HiLight gently alerts you with subtle glowing lights when your favorite contacts are calling or you’re talking with Gemini; exclusive to Google Pixel 11 Pro phones
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- Two new cameras for more brilliant photos: A larger telephoto sensor captures 30% more light for clear, beautiful photos and videos, even in the dark[3]; Pixel’s longest zoom ever helps you capture details from impressive distances[4]
How the dispute reached the current judgment
- August 2024: The district court found Google liable in the search case. The DOJ’s September 2, 2025 release reproduced the court’s statement: “Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly.” That sentence is the court’s finding, quoted by DOJ.
- March 7, 2025: DOJ filed its revised proposed final judgment, including Chrome divestiture, restrictions involving Android and related products, and possible contingent Android divestiture.
- September 2, 2025: The court announced remedies that did not include a Chrome or Android sale. DOJ’s public summary described restrictions on certain exclusive distribution contracts, search-data sharing with specified competitors, and search and search-text-ad syndication.
- December 5, 2025: The final judgment was entered, establishing the enforceable remedy and implementation framework.
- January and February 2026: Alphabet reported that Google appealed in January and sought to pause some remedies. DOJ and state attorneys general appealed in February.
- July 28, 2026: The DOJ docket listed a government response and cross-appeal brief.
- September 17, 2026: Plaintiffs filed a second status report describing continuing implementation work. It preceded a September 18 status conference, so it does not establish what happened at that conference.
DOJ’s proposal versus the final judgment
| Issue | DOJ proposal (March 2025) | Final judgment (December 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Required divestiture of Chrome and assets or services necessary to complete the sale. | No Chrome sale ordered. |
| Android | Restrictions on using Android and related products to favor Google Search; possible divestiture if initial remedies failed or were circumvented. | No immediate Android sale. The judgment preserves possible later structural relief under specified conditions. |
| Distribution | Sought to prevent preferential access and exclusivity that protected Google’s search position. | Restricts specified exclusive contracts involving Google Search, Chrome, Google Assistant and Gemini, and bars certain tying conditions. |
| Data and syndication | Proposed access and distribution remedies intended to give competitors a greater chance to compete. | Requires sharing specified search-index and user-interaction data with qualified competitors and requires search and search-text-ad syndication. |
| Oversight and duration | Government-requested remedy framework, not yet an order. | Six-year judgment with a Technical Committee and authority for possible additional structural relief. |
What the court actually ordered
Limits on exclusive distribution deals
The judgment restricts specified exclusive arrangements for distributing Google Search, Chrome, Google Assistant and Gemini. It also bars certain conditions that tie application licensing or revenue-share payments to placing or maintaining Google products.
Partners cannot be bound by covered agreements that prohibit distribution of competing general-search, browser or generative-AI products. The scope is defined by the judgment’s covered contracts and conditions; it is not a universal ban on every Google partnership.
Search data access
Google must share certain search-index and user-interaction data with qualified competitors. The requirement is intended to reduce an information advantage that can make it harder for rival search services to improve.
Rank #2
- Google Pixel 10a is a durable, everyday phone with more[1]; snap brilliant photography on a simple, powerful camera, get 30+ hours out of a full charge[2], and do more with helpful AI like Gemini[3]
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan; it works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Pixel 10a is sleek and durable, with a super smooth finish, scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 7i display, and IP68 water and dust protection[4]
- The Actua display with 3,000-nit peak brightness shows up clear as day, even in direct sunlight[5]
- Plan, create, and get more done with help from Gemini, your built-in AI assistant[3]; have it screen spam calls while you focus[6]; chat with Gemini to brainstorm your meal plan[7], or bring your ideas to life with Nano Banana[8]
Search and advertising-text syndication
The judgment requires search and search-text-ad syndication. In practical terms, covered competitors can seek access to syndication arrangements under the judgment’s terms rather than being shut out by exclusive Google distribution structures.
Monitoring and implementation
The judgment lasts six years and uses a Technical Committee to assist with monitoring and implementation. That committee is not a new owner of Chrome or Android; it is an oversight mechanism for putting the court’s behavioral and data remedies into effect.
Could Google still be forced to sell Android?
Possibly, but only through the judgment’s conditional process. The court preserved authority to impose additional structural relief—including Android divestiture—if the ordered remedies fail to restore competition as intended or Google attempts to evade them.
That language does not set an automatic sale date, establish that Android will be sold, or mean that a divestiture has already been triggered. Any later structural step would depend on the conditions and procedures in the judgment and on developments in implementation and litigation.
Why Google is appealing—and what remains unsettled
Alphabet’s SEC filing says Google appealed in January 2026 and sought to pause some remedies. DOJ and the state attorneys general appealed in February 2026, challenging aspects of the judgment from the government side. The DOJ docket shows appellate briefing through July 28, 2026.
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The reviewed filings do not establish a later appellate decision or whether a stay was granted. They also do not establish the result of the September 18, 2026 status conference.
Rank #4
- Google Pixel 10 Pro is the ultimate Pixel experience, featuring advanced AI with Gemini, unbelievable camera quality, impeccable design in two sizes, and the next-gen Google Tensor G5 chip[1]
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan[2]; it works - Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Get a head start on syncing your data before it even arrives: After you purchase your new Pixel, look for an email that explains how to transfer your photos, videos, passwords, and more in just a few quick steps[11]
- Pixel’s pro camera system makes everything look amazing, even in low light; capture more of the scene with advanced Google AI models, and bring out incredible details with 100x Pro Res Zoom, stunning 50 MP images, and super steady videos in 8K[10]
- Pixel 10 Pro is built with durable aluminum and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for scratch and drop resistance; the 6.3-inch Super Actua display with 3,300-nit peak brightness is easy on the eyes, even in direct sunlight[3,13,18]
The source-code access dispute
In their September 17 status report, plaintiffs said all five Technical Committee members had been onboarded by June 15, 2026 and that the committee was building its processes. The parties had submitted syndication templates for review, with Google’s objections due September 29.
Plaintiffs also described an unresolved dispute over a Source Code Agreement governing the committee’s access to Google source code and algorithms. They presented that agreement as important to implementation. This is plaintiffs’ account in a court filing, not an independent judicial finding that Google violated the judgment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the case could mean for defaults and competitors
The remedy focuses on how Google can contract with device makers, browsers and other distribution partners, rather than immediately separating Chrome or Android into new companies. Restrictions on exclusivity and tying can give partners more room to distribute competing search, browser and generative-AI products.
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- Google Pixel 7 is powered by Google Tensor G2; it’s faster, more efficient, and more secure, with the best photo and video quality yet on Pixel[1].Other camera description:Front,Rear.Bluetooth Version 5.2 with dual antennas for enhanced quality and connection.
- Unlocked Android 5G phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan[2]; works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Pixel’s Adaptive Battery can last over 24 hours; when Extreme Battery Saver is turned on, it can last up to 72 hours[3]
- The 6.3-inch Pixel 7 display is super sharp, with rich, vivid colors; it’s fast and responsive for smoother gaming, scrolling, and moving between apps[4]
- Google Pixel 7 has wide and ultrawide lenses with up to 8x Super Res Zoom[5]; and Cinematic Blur brings more drama to your videos
Data-sharing and syndication obligations address another part of the competitive problem: rivals’ access to inputs and distribution needed to operate search services. Whether those provisions materially change the market depends on implementation, compliance and the appeals.
DOJ said in its September 2, 2025 release that Google had accounted for approximately 90 percent of U.S. search queries “for years.” That is DOJ’s approximate historical description, not a current 2026 market-share measurement.
Keep this case separate from Google’s ad-tech litigation
This proceeding concerns Google’s general-search distribution and related products such as Chrome, Android, Assistant and Gemini. It is separate from the government’s antitrust case concerning Google’s advertising-technology business. The remedies and procedural timelines should not be merged.
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