After failing to receive any quick remedy from the courts against the CCI order, which ruled that it had abused its dominant position and engaged in anti-competitive conduct in India, Google has begun to make modifications to its policies regarding apps and the digital ecosystem.
The US tech giant will now permit smartphone manufacturers to licence certain apps from its catalogue rather than the entire collection. Users will be given the option to use a different search engine as their default, in addition to Google search. Though some competing Indian app developers, like MapmyIndia, continue to call for additional clarification, the move is being perceived as a significant backpedalling by Google.
A £133.8 million fine was levied against Google for exploiting its position of dominance through the widely used Android operating system, and a further £ 93.6 million was demanded in a case involving its Play Store policy. It is now making the adjustments after the Supreme Court and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) both rejected its requests for a stay of proceedings.
“We take our commitment to comply with local laws and regulations in India seriously. The CCI’s recent directives for Android and Play require us to make significant changes for India, and today we’ve informed the CCI of how we will be complying with their directives,” Google said.
