Google Seeks to Block Data Sharing with OpenAI as it Appeals Search Monopoly Ruling

While Google is fighting the requirement to share its proprietary data, the company clarified that it is not seeking to delay other court mandates.

RMN News Technology Desk
New Delhi | January 19, 2026

WASHINGTON — Tech giant Google has formally requested a federal judge to postpone a ruling that would require the company to share its search data with competitors, including OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. This request is part of Google’s ongoing legal battle to overturn a 2024 decision that declared the company holds an illegal monopoly in the online search market.

The Fight Over Data and Trade Secrets

In recent court filings, Google argued that being forced to turn over data to rivals before its appeal is decided risks the exposure of trade secrets. The company’s vice president of regulatory affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland, stated in a blog post that the previous court decision failed to account for the “intense competition” Google faces from both well-funded startups and established tech players.

Google maintains that its dominance is a result of user preference rather than coercion, asserting that the court “ignored the reality that people use Google because they want to, not because they’re forced to”.

Roots of the Monopoly Case

The legal challenge began in 2020 during the first Trump administration and went to trial in late 2023. In August 2024, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google had unlawfully monopolized the search and text advertising markets.

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The court found that Google secured its position through exclusive distribution agreements with companies like Apple and Samsung, paying more than $20 billion annually to ensure its search engine was the “default” option on smartphones. These deals, according to the judge, effectively blocked rivals from accessing key distribution channels.

Proposed Remedies and Compromises

Following a second trial in early 2025, Judge Mehta rejected a proposal from the Justice Department to force Google to sell its Chrome browser. However, he did mandate that Google’s default search deals must be rebid every year to allow for more market competition.

While Google is fighting the requirement to share its proprietary data, the company clarified that it is not seeking to delay other court mandates. Specifically, Google stated it is prepared to move forward with requirements related to “privacy and security safeguards” for user data while its appeal is pending.

“Google believes that these remedies are unwarranted,” the company stated in court papers, but it remains prepared to comply with all orders short of providing syndicated results or turning over its internal data to competitors during the appeals process.