Why Competition Commission of India may not be done with Google yet

It looks like India’s anti-trust regulator isn’t done with Google yet. According to a news report, Google may receive a third blow from India’s competition regulator – this time for alleged abuse of market dominance in the smart TV market.

The Economic Times reported that the director general office of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has concluded the investigation and submitted its report.

Why is this significant?

This development is significant as the regulator has over the past month issued two orders against the US technology giant, levying a total fine of over Rs 2,000 crore.

So, what is the background to this case?

In June 2021, CCI had ordered a probe into the alleged abuse of market dominance by Google’s smart television operating system Android TV after it found prima facie evidence. The commission was acting based on a complaint filed by lawyers of two trusts.

Television manufacturers need to enter into a licensing agreement with Google to use its platform. It has been alleged that the terms of such licensing agreements are prohibitive for equipment manufacturers.

The informants allege that Google Play Store comes pre-installed in TVs manufactured by companies that have entered into licensing agreements with Google, while Play Store services are not available for televisions manufactured by companies that have not entered any agreements with Google.

The probe has also looked into the so-called Android Compatibility Commitments (ACC). These agreements prohibit equipment manufacturers from producing, distributing, or selling any other smart television which is not Android based according to the report. 

Are there any more cases against Google?

Yes, apart from this there is at least one more case against Google where CCI’s probe is in progress. The case pertains to a complaint filed by news publishers against Google’s search engine and advertising policies.