Showdown at the court: Google could face a billion-euro penalty for anticompetitive practices in smartphone market
Legal Advisor Proposes Massive Financial Penalty for Google's Infractions
In a recent development, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has recommended upholding a €4.12 billion fine imposed on Google in 2018 for allegedly violating competition rules in the smartphone market. The tech giant has appealed this penalty, but the ECJ's advocate general, Juliane Kokott, has weighed in on the matter, giving a thumbs up to the EU Commission's decision.
The EU Commission accused Google of limiting competition by imposing illegal restrictions on manufacturers of mobile devices and mobile network operators. According to the Commission's findings, manufacturers were forced to pre-install Google's search app and browser to obtain a license for Google's app store[3].
If the court follows the advocate general's recommendation, it could be a major blow to Google, which argues that the fine could hinder future investments in open platforms and harm Android users, partners, and app developers[4]. However, it's important to note that the ECJ's final decision is not decided yet and is expected in the coming months.
- European Court of Justice
- Justice
- Luxembourg
[1] ntv.de, lar/dpa (Source)[2] Reuters.com (Source)[3] Businessinsider.com (Source)[4] CNBC.com (Source)
The European Court of Justice, in light of the Advocate General's recommendation, may impose a significant penalty on Google, potentially impacting the company's future investments in various sectors such as industry, business, and finance, which could include initiatives like community policy and vocational training programs, as well as contributions to the development of new technologies within the vocational training industry. Google, on the other hand, argues that such a penalty might hamper Android's growth, potentially affecting users, partners, and app developers.
