Over the past few years, Google’s control over the Android ecosystem has been a topic of debate, particularly in India, where regulators and the government have called for changes in Google’s treatment of its operating system. These changes include reducing pre-installed apps, loosening restrictions on Android “forks,” and allowing third-party app stores to distribute through the Google Play Store. However, in a recent ruling, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) partially relieved Google by setting aside four of the 10 directives issued by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) related to the abuse of Google’s dominant position in Android.
Earlier this year, the CCI directed Google to make several changes to its business practices in India, including giving users the ability to remove Google apps, use third-party billing options on the Play Store, and change their search engine if desired. Google argued that the CCI’s order suffered from “confirmation bias” and was too similar to a verdict by the European Commission in 2018.
Partial relief for Google
Although the NCLAT upheld the $161 million penalty levied on Google by the CCI, it offered some relief to the tech giant by removing four out of ten directives. These directives included the need to permit the hosting of third-party app stores within the Play Store and restrict the uninstallation of pre-installed apps by users.
Despite the appeal, Google has agreed to implement some changes suggested by the CCI. Indian smartphone vendors can now license individual apps for pre-installation on their Android-powered devices, and users can change their search engine and use third-party billing options for apps and game purchases on the Play Store.
“We are grateful for the opportunity given by the NCLAT to make our case. We are reviewing the order and evaluating our legal options,” said Google on the verdict.
2023-04-03 15:06:02