Google is set to challenge India supreme court in an attempt to block a ruling by the country’s antitrust watchdog that will force the US tech giant to change how it markets its Android platform
In October, the Competition Commission of India imposed a penalty of $161 million on Alphabet Unit subsidiary for taking advantage of its leading position in the Android market, which is used by 97 percent of smartphones in India, an important area of expansion for the American company.
Nevertheless, Google has been concerned with India’s judgment since the outcomes mandated are considered to be more extensive than the European Commission’s historical 2018 decree of implementing illegal prohibitions on Android smartphone producers.
Google contested the unprecedented $4.3 billion fine.
On Wednesday, Google’s appeal to block the antitrust ruling was denied by a tribunal, so the Supreme Court will now take up the case.
Google claims India antitrust body copied parts of EU order on Android abuse
The company claimed that executing the directives of the CCI would be detrimental to its business model and the interests of customers.
Google is now preparing to file a legal challenge at India’s Supreme Court within days as the antitrust watchdog’s January 19 deadline to implement changes to its model draws closer.
Additionally, Google alleged in its filings the CCI’s investigation unit copied parts of a European 2018 ruling against the U.S. firm.
In October, the CCI also rulded that Google’s Play Store authorising should not be connected with the need of pre-installing Google search services, the Chrome web browser, YouTube, or any other Google services.
Tech Giant Google currently licenses its Android system to smartphone manufacturers. However, critics say it imposes restrictions like mandatory pre-installation of its own apps that are anti-competitive.
The company argues such agreements help keep the operating system free.
