Google has filed a case against Competition Commission of India in the Supreme Court in regards to the ruling of them abusing their market power. Disagreeing with the these accusations, they are going to fight against CCI to prove themselves non-guilty.
The company was asked to remove any licensing restrictions that it imposed on the devices of Android users and instead be distributed impartially.
Image source: Reuters
Android phones are used by almost 97% of India’s citizens owning a smartphone. As Android is supported by Google, the company was accused of abusing its power in the market and reducing the creative and developing abilities of Android device manufacturers.
Against the ruling on June 26, this year it has decided to file an appeal against these accusations.
Claims of CCI About Google
The CCI claimed that Google has abused its authority and position in the market with its Android operating system to hinder the development of some companies like Amazon.
It also claimed that Google’s restrictions have caused device manufacturers in India problems in the process of developing and selling their products. As the manufacturers are unable to work with a more free structure, their ability is reduced to an extent and unable to bring a better quality product to the market.
Image Source Business Today
These restrictions by them are not only hurting the economic market of India but also hurting consumer interests in regard that they are unable to have the option to buy a better device.
The Competition Commission of India is an authority that observes the Indian Market and competition and prevents any problems in it. It also works to make sure that the consumers in India have a wide variety of products and options to choose from.
Amazon’s comments on Google
On the subject of Android market abuse by Google, Amazon also came forward to speak during the filing of CCI. The company during CCI’s investigation came forward and said that the restrictions by Google have hindered Amazon in the development of Fire OS- an Android fork.
Image Source: Reuters
Fire phone is a phone introduced by Amazon back in 2014 and the company claimed that the development of the Fire phone OS is being hindered because of the restrictions imposed by Google in its Android development system.
Due to the restrictions, Amazon is unable to bring the best of their technology in their phones, which also reduced their creative and developing margins, claimed the company.
Google’s Case
Google is arguing against the said ruling and says that it has not abused its market position in any sense in the Android operating system. They are against paying any penalty asked of them.
The company is also claiming that CCI has filed a case against it only because it is protecting the company Amazon, which claims to have obstructed developments due to Google’s Restrictions.
It also said that the Company Amazon’s claims of misusing its authority are unfounded because- the Fire phone launched by Amazon has already not been doing well Globally. It also said that Amazon’s phone is not even available or launched in India, and thus cannot be used as proof of their so-called misuse of Android market dominance.
The South Korean and Europe Commission also filed similar cases against it and the company had decided to fight against those too.
It also said that the 10 directives given by CCI are too far-fetched and will create a huge difference in their workings if implemented.
Google also claims that CCI has “copy-pasted” its arguments and accusations from the case when Europe filed a similar case against the company. It has thus decided to fight the ruling in the Supreme Court.
