This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Rules its schemes violate the Sherman Act and have harmed consumers

In a blow to tech giant Google, a move that could be a prelude to a breakup of the giant money-making machine, a federal judge has concluded that it operates an illegal monopoly over two markets related to digital advertising tech.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia found that Google is in violation of the Sherman Act because it dominates the online publisher ad server market and the ad-exchange market that connects ad buyers to sellers.

A report from New York Post said the judge found that the corporation's antics "substantially harmed" customers.

The judge wrote, "Google further entrenched its monopoly power by imposing anticompetitive practices on its customers and eliminating desirable product features."

The ruling continued, "In addition to depriving rivals of the ability to compete, this exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Google's publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web."

The report explained the Department of Justice has expressed the desire for the court to force Google to sell of its digital advertising operations, including Google Ad Manager.

"Remedies" will be taken up in a second phase of the trial.

Explained the Post, "The ruling is another major legal blow for Google. Last year, a federal judge ruled in a separate case that Google has an illegal monopoly over the online search market."