A final judgment is a court's formal decision resolving the issues that must be decided before the case can ordinarily move to appeal. In civil litigation it records the outcome and, where appropriate, the relief ordered. In an antitrust case, that may include prohibitions, required changes to a business and provisions for oversight.
A judge's written opinion and the final judgment are related but not identical. The opinion explains the reasoning; the judgment states the operative result. A proposed final judgment filed by a party is only a request until the court adopts or modifies it. Parties may dispute the wording before an enforceable order is entered.
Final does not mean immune from challenge. A losing party may appeal, ask for a stay or seek other permitted post-judgment relief. Unless execution is stayed, obligations can remain in effect while review continues. Courts may also retain jurisdiction to oversee compliance with an antitrust decree for a stated period.
For accurate reporting, look at the actual docket entry and signed judgment rather than relying on a headline about what a judge might order. Note the entry date, the obligations imposed, any implementation deadlines and whether the order has been stayed, amended or reversed.