Google, which has already received two CCI fines, may soon receive a third fine for alleged abuse of its market dominance in the smart TV sector.
According to a recent media report, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) may impose a fine on the digital giant Google for the third time in a row. The Economic Times reported that Google, which has already received two CCI fines, may soon receive a third fine for alleged abuse of its market dominance in the smart TV sector.
The director general office of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), according to a report in The Economic Times, has concluded a probe into allegations that Google abused its market dominance in the market for smart TVs.
According to the report, the investigation focused on the infamous Android Compatibility Commitments, which forbid equipment manufacturers from creating, marketing, or selling any alternative smart television that is not based on Android.
TV manufacturers must sign a licensing deal with Google in order to utilize its operating system (OS). The terms of these agreements, according to the complainants, are prohibitive for the producers.
The alleged abuse of Google’s market dominance in the smart TV market began in June 2021, according to reports
The alleged abuse of Google’s market dominance in the smart TV market began in June 2021, according to reports. The Android TV operating system from Google was being investigated at the time because the Competition Commission of India (CCI) apparently discovered some preliminary evidence. The two trusts’ lawyers also submitted a complaint, and the CCI started a probe as a result of that complaint.
It has been claimed that Google Play Store is frequently pre-installed in TVs produced by businesses that have contracts with Google for licensing. However, it appears that televisions produced by firms that have not entered into any agreements with the tech giant are not eligible for Play Store services.
According to the Economic Times report, the probe has now looked into the Android Compatibility Commitments (ACC). These agreements typically forbid manufacturers from creating, distributing, or offering for sale any alternative smart television that is not based on Android.
Google has already paid a fine in the first two instances for abusing its market dominant position in relation to the ecosystem for Android-based mobile devices
Google has already paid a fine in the first two instances for abusing its market-dominant position in relation to the ecosystem for Android-based mobile devices. In the two cases, the Commission imposed a combined fine of more than Rs 2,000 crore.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Google told the publication that due to Google’s free licensing policy, the Indian market for smart TVs is growing, and Android TV competes against a number of well-known TV operating systems like Tizen, FireOS, and WebOS. The spokesperson added that they are certain that all applicable competition regulations are followed by their smart TV licensing methods.
It may be mentioned here that last month, the Competition Commission of India penalized Google 1337.6 crore and 936 crores for abusing their dominance with the Play Store and the Android operating system, respectively. The company’s AndroidTV operating system and the agreements Google has with businesses in that ecosystem are the subjects of the third case.
Antitrust attorneys Purushottam Anand and Kshitiz Arya had submitted the complaint in May 2020, and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) discovered initial evidence of a breach of Indian antitrust laws in June of that same year
Antitrust attorneys Purushottam Anand and Kshitiz Arya submitted the complaint in May 2020, and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) discovered initial evidence of a breach of Indian antitrust laws in June of that same year. It instructed the Director General (DG) to look into the situation more thoroughly and submit a report. Before coming to a decision about the matter, the Competition Commission of India seeks comments from the involved parties based on the DG’s report.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, while the inquiry into the Play Store issue appears to have been expedited, the investigation into the Android TV ecosystem will take at least another year. The source pointed out that the nearly four-year-long probe led to the 1,337.6 crores fine against Google. The CCI was initially presented with that case back in 2018.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma
