Google to Challenge CCI Order at Supreme Court

Craig Cortez

2023-01-11

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Google is reportedly set to challenge the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) ruling on Android-related antitrust charges in the Supreme Court. The US tech giant has been fined Rs 13,300 crore by CCI for allegedly exploiting its dominant position in the market. Google recently requested the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) to block the CCI decision, but its plea was rejected. 
 
The fight between Google and the regulator began in 2019 when the CCI ordered Google to change its Android platform and business model in India to ensure free and fair competition. Last year, the antitrust watchdog fined Google Rs. 13,300 crores for allegedly using its dominant position in the market to impose restrictions on mobile device makers. Google has alleged that the CCI copied parts of a 2018 ruling from the European Commission. 
 
The NCLAT recently directed Google to pay the CCI 10 percent of the Rs 1337.76 crore penalty within three months. Google, however, has only complied once the Supreme Court hears the case. According to sources, Google will appeal to the apex court within days as the January 19 deadline to implement the CCI’s ruling looms. 
 
The case has received much attention in India due to its far-reaching implications. Google argues that implementation of the directives will hurt its long-standing business model and consumer interests. Critics, on the other hand, say that Google’s licensing of its Play Store comes with restrictions like mandatory pre-installation of its own apps, which are anti-competitive. 
 
With the deadline to implement CCI’s ruling fast approaching, Google’s appeal to the Supreme Court is likely to bring the Android antitrust saga to a head. The court’s decision will have a major impact on the company’s business model in India and the country’s tech industry as a whole.

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