Google Claims India Copied European Union's Antitrust Ruling 'Word-For-Word'

Google claims that India's antitrust body copied parts of European Union's ruling against the company for exploiting the market dominance of its Android smartphone operating system.

Legal papers show that Google is asking for the decision to be quashed on these grounds.

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Did CCI copy EU's ruling?

In October 2022, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined Alphabet Inc's Google $161 million for exploiting its powerful position - for Google Search engine and its Android app store. At that time, CCI asked Google to ease restrictions on manufacturers to pre-install apps.

Sources told Reuters that Google was worried about India's ruling at the time, viewing it more far-reaching that the European Commission's 2017 ruling that imposed a $4.3 billion fine.

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Also read:?Google Fined Rs. 1,337 Crore In India For 'Abusing Dominant Position'

In its filing to an Indian appeals tribunal, Google has claimed that CCI "copy-pasted extensively from a European Commission decision, deploying evidence from Europe that was not examined in India".?Google added that "there are more than 50 instances of copypasting," in some cases "word-for-word."

"The Commission failed to conduct an impartial, balanced, and legally sound investigation... Google's mobile app distribution practices are pro-competitive and not unfair/exclusionary," the filing seen by Reuters said.

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Google decided to appeal the CCI's decision as it thinks that the antitrust decision "presents a major setback for our Indian users and businesses."

Also read:?India Fines Google Second Time In A Week, Company To Pay Rs. 936 Crore Penalty

In October, the CCI ruled that Google's licensing?of its Play Store "shall not be linked with the requirement of pre-installing" Google services like Search, Chrome, YouTube, etc. But US-based Google claims that the CCI found infringements related to Google Search app, Chrome, and YouTube but its order "extends beyond" that.

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In a different antitrust decision, the CCI fined Google $113 million for limiting the use of third-party payment services in India. Google is also appealing this decision.

What do you think about Google's antitrust woes in India? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com.?

References

Kalra, A., & Vengattil, M. (2023, January 4). Google alleges India antitrust body copied parts of EU order on Android abuse. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/google-alleges-india-antitrust-body-copied-parts-eu-order-android-abuse-2023-01-03/?utm_medium=Social