Russia’s anti-trust authority on
Thursday fined Google 438 million rubles ($6.75 million) after finding
it guilty of abusing its dominant market position by forcing smartphone
makers to install its search engine on Androids.
Thursday fined Google 438 million rubles ($6.75 million) after finding
it guilty of abusing its dominant market position by forcing smartphone
makers to install its search engine on Androids.
The Federal Antimonopoly Service in
September last year deemed Google in breach of a law on “protecting
competition” after an investigation following a complaint by Russia’s
largest search engine, Yandex.
September last year deemed Google in breach of a law on “protecting
competition” after an investigation following a complaint by Russia’s
largest search engine, Yandex.
Yandex asked the anti-trust authorities to prevent Android phones from being automatically bundled with Google’s search engine.
The FAS said that Google has two months to pay the fine.
Yelena Zayeva, the head of its
department for regulating communications and IT was quoted in the
statement as saying the ruling “will allow the development of
competition on the mobile software market in Russia, which will have a
positive effect for consumers.”
department for regulating communications and IT was quoted in the
statement as saying the ruling “will allow the development of
competition on the mobile software market in Russia, which will have a
positive effect for consumers.”
All companies whose production is on
sale in Russia have to observe the law on competition, “including
transnational corporations,” Zayeva added.
sale in Russia have to observe the law on competition, “including
transnational corporations,” Zayeva added.
Google said in a statement sent to AFP:
“We have received notice of the fine from FAS and will analyze closely
before deciding our next steps.”
“We have received notice of the fine from FAS and will analyze closely
before deciding our next steps.”
“In the meantime, we continue to talk to
all invested parties to help consumers, device manufacturers and
developers thrive on Android in Russia,” Google said.
all invested parties to help consumers, device manufacturers and
developers thrive on Android in Russia,” Google said.
The tech giant’s Android operating
system dominates the smartphone market with a share of around 80
percent, which enables Google to offer search and other services to
handset users.
system dominates the smartphone market with a share of around 80
percent, which enables Google to offer search and other services to
handset users.
Russia’s anti-trust authority had been
holding consultations with Google aimed at reaching an amicable
agreement, but this required Google to admit guilt.
holding consultations with Google aimed at reaching an amicable
agreement, but this required Google to admit guilt.
Google has insisted that consumers are free to choose whether to use its services.
Google has been hit by similar
anti-trust charges in other countries, particularly in the European
Union, which has launched three cases against Google, one of which is
specifically about using the dominance of the Android mobile phone
operating system to restrict competition.
anti-trust charges in other countries, particularly in the European
Union, which has launched three cases against Google, one of which is
specifically about using the dominance of the Android mobile phone
operating system to restrict competition.
Russia’s anti-trust authority this week
also launched legal proceedings against US tech giant Apple over the
alleged fixing of resellers’ prices for iPhones in the country.
also launched legal proceedings against US tech giant Apple over the
alleged fixing of resellers’ prices for iPhones in the country.
Apple said in a statement sent to AFP:
“Resellers set their own prices for the Apple products they sell in
Russia and around the world.”
“Resellers set their own prices for the Apple products they sell in
Russia and around the world.”
Source: AFP
