An Indian appeals tribunal said CCI’s findings of Google’s anti-competitive conduct were correct and the company was also liable to pay the fine, but it quashed four of the 10 antitrust remedies that had been imposed on Google to change its business model.
The NCLAT was revisiting the case after Google challenged CCI ruling that asked the company to refrain from indulging in various unfair business practices in a case related to the dominant market position of its Android operating system.
The tribunal rejected Google’s plea stating that there was no violation of natural justice in the probe conducted by the CCI, which imposed a hefty fine on Google on October 30, 2022.
Small win for Google
The NCLAT set aside four of the 10 antitrust directives imposed on the company’s business model in the case, Reuters reported.
The CCI directives that were quashed include requiring Google to allow access to its Play Store API, requiring Google to allow the uninstallation of pre-installed apps, mandating Google to allow other app stores on the Play Store, and requiring it to allow side-loading of apps by other app developers.
Furthermore, the six CCI directions that were upheld are:
– Google can’t force OEMs to pre-install an entire suite of apps,
– Google can’t position its apps in a certain way,
– License the Play Store to OEMs linked to pre-installation of Chrome, Search, Maps, YouTube, or any other app,
– Pay OEMs to maintain exclusivity of its search services,
– Google can’t ask OEMs not to sell smart devices based on Android forks,
– Google must allow users to choose their default search engine.
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