Judge Dismisses Antitrust Suits Against Google’s AI Search Features
A federal judge dismissed lawsuits claiming Google’s AI search harms competitors.
Why it matters: This ruling provides key legal clarity on AI’s role in digital search competition, critical for antitrust and IP lawyers tracking AI’s market impact and regulatory challenges.
- On September 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta dismissed lawsuits from Chegg Inc. and Penske Media Corporation against Google.
- The plaintiffs alleged Google’s AI Overviews feature unlawfully used their content and diverted web traffic, harming revenue.
- Judge Mehta ruled no formal agreement existed obligating Google to provide specific traffic in exchange for publishers’ content.
- The dismissal was without prejudice, allowing plaintiffs to amend and potentially refile their claims.
On September 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta dismissed two antitrust lawsuits filed by Chegg Inc. and Penske Media Corporation against Google over its AI Overviews feature, which the plaintiffs claimed unlawfully used publishers’ content and diverted web traffic, causing harm to their revenue. According to The Economic Times, Judge Mehta found that the plaintiffs did not demonstrate any formal agreement requiring Google to direct specific amounts of traffic back to their sites.
Judge Mehta explained, "They maintain that Plaintiffs have failed to plead any actual agreement whereby Defendants promised to 'sell' Plaintiffs any specific amount of traffic—or any traffic whatsoever—in exchange for 'buying' their content." He further noted that publishers allow Google to crawl their sites "because doing so serves their own independent interest in search traffic, not because they struck any bargain with Google."
The ruling aligns with industry analysis from Search Engine Roundtable and AI Stock Wire, underscoring the difficulty publishers face in proving reciprocal dealing in the context of AI-generated content integrated into search results.
Importantly, the dismissal was without prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs retain the option to amend their complaints and potentially refile. This leaves the door open for further legal developments in this emerging area of AI usage and antitrust law. Industry observers will continue monitoring for appeals or amended claims from Chegg Inc. and Penske Media Corporation.
By the numbers:
- Sept 30, 2026 — Date of Judge Mehta's ruling
- 2 — Number of lawsuits dismissed (Chegg Inc. and Penske Media)
- ~100 — Publishers reportedly paid by Google in a pilot program
What's next: Plaintiffs may amend their complaints and refile, keeping antitrust claims over Google's AI features active.