Google Does not Want to Cancel the Pre-installation of its Apps on Devices

Google Does not Want to Cancel the Pre-installation of its Apps on Devices
Photo: unsplash.com 20.02.2023 556

Google said the placement of its apps on devices through pre-installation is not "unfair" as there is no restriction from installing other apps.

Tech giant Google on Friday submitted before the NCLAT that there was "unfair imposition" by the competition watchdog CCI over its mobile app distribution agreement (MADA) with device makers as it does not restrict from installing other apps, including that of rivals.

A Google spokesman said that Google’s apps, which are merely pre-installed "does not translate into dominance". Android  users can download apps like WhatsApp, Instagram*, Twitter etc from its Play Store as per their choice, he noted. In 2021, 26 billion downloads of apps were recorded.

The appellate tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Google against a $162 million penalty imposed by the fair trade regulator CCI for abusing its dominant position in relation to Android mobile devices.

 A two-member NCLAT bench headed by Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan on Friday said it will start day-to-day hearing of the matter from February 23, the next date of hearing.

CCI slapped a penalty on Google last year and required the company to abandon unfair business practices.

In January of this year, the Supreme Court of India rejected Google's petition to set aside the fine. The CCI's demand that Google change its marketing policy with respect to the Android platform also remained in force. 

At the same time, the Supreme Court decided not to interfere with the merits of the case and left it to the lower court to decide on Google's appeal against the CCI verdict. The Supreme Court set the deadline for consideration of the appeal — until March 31.

*banned and designated as extremist in Russia

Source: The Economic Times

digital markets  India 

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