A man walks past a sign at the company’s annual technology event “Google for India” in New Delhi. file | Photo Credit: Reuters
Google said on January 20 that it would cooperate with the Competition Authority of India The Supreme Court upheld an antitrust order forcing the US firm to change how it markets its popular Android platform.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) ruled in October that Alphabet Inc-owned Google took advantage of its dominant position in Android and asked it to lift restrictions on device makers, including those relating to pre-installation of apps and its search This includes ensuring exclusivity. , It also fined Google $161 million.
On Thursday, Google lost a challenge in the Supreme Court to block the directions, giving it seven days to comply.
“We remain committed to our users and partners and will cooperate with the CCI on the way forward,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement. reutersWithout specifying the steps it can take.
“We are reviewing the details of yesterday’s decision which is limited to interim relief and does not decide the merits of our appeal,” Google said, adding that it will continue its legal challenge to the Android decision.
The Supreme Court has said a lower tribunal – where Google first challenged the Android Directives – can continue to hear the company’s appeal and must rule by March 31.
According to estimates by Counterpoint Research, about 97 percent of the 600 million smartphones in India run on Android. Apple has only 3% share.
Hoping to block the implementation of the CCI directive, Google challenged the CCI order in the Supreme Court by warning that it could stall the development of the Android ecosystem. It also said it would be forced to make changes to arrangements with more than 1,100 device makers and thousands of app developers if the directive comes into force.
Google is concerned about India’s decision as the steps are seen as more comprehensive than those put in place in the European Commission’s 2018 decision. There, Android mobile device manufacturers were fined by the commission for imposing an illegal ban. Google is still challenging a record $4.3 billion fine in that case.
In Europe, Google later made changes including letting Android device users choose their default search engine and that device makers would be able to license the Google mobile application suite separately from the Google Search app or the Chrome browser.
Some analysts say Google will now need to make similar changes in India to comply with the directive.
Faisal Kawoosa, founder of Indian research firm Techhark, said Google may have to consider other business models such as charging startups an upfront fee for providing access to the Android platform and its Play Store.