How the Google Case Could Play Out as Epic Court Battle Begins

Alphabet Inc.’s Google and the U.S. Justice Department are set to face each other in court Friday for the first time since the government sued the company for illegally monopolizing internet search.

The hearing, in federal court in Washington, marks the first time attorneys for Google and the government will come together to start mapping out the the litigation process. It will set the stage for what’s shaping up to be a drawn-out court battle that could ultimately weaken Google’s gatekeeper position over the web if the government is successful.

“We’re at the top of the first inning of ...