Google will not be required to sell its AdX advertising exchange after U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema rejected the Justice Department’s proposed breakup of the company’s ad-tech business. In a 106-page ruling unsealed Wednesday, Brinkema imposed global behavioral remedies for six years after finding in April 2025 that Google illegally monopolized parts of the publisher ad-server and advertising-exchange markets. Google can no longer require publishers using its ad server to route inventory through AdX, and it must end auction practices known as First Look and Last Look that gave its exchange advantages over rivals. Google’s ad server and AdX must integrate with Prebid, an open-source header-bidding technology, while publishers must be able to access AdX bids without using Google’s ad server, transfer their data to competing platforms and avoid retaliation for using rival ad tech. Google Ads may prioritize AdX when that improves outcomes for advertisers, such as through stronger fraud or privacy protections, but not solely because Google owns both products. The ruling also requires an independent monitor with authority to inspect source code, algorithms and documents and interview employees. Google plans to appeal the liability finding involving its Google Ad Manager publishing tool. The remedies are shorter than the 15-year term sought by the Justice Department and states, and a final order detailing implementation is still pending. Advertising accounted for about 73% of Alphabet’s $408 billion in revenue last year, while Alphabet’s market value exceeded $4.1 trillion.