In a ruling that could reshape the technology industry, a federal judge has ordered Google to divest its Chrome web browser after finding the company maintained an illegal monopoly in internet search. The decision represents the most significant antitrust action against a technology company since the Microsoft case of the 1990s.

Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google's exclusive agreements to make its search engine the default on smartphones and browsers constituted illegal monopoly maintenance. The company's payments to Apple alone exceeded $20 billion annually.

Google has announced plans to appeal, setting up a legal battle that could take years to resolve.