The European Commission has decided to charge Google of abusing its dominant position in the European search market to favor its own mechanisms for comparing products and services Google Shopping.
At the same meeting, the Commission also decided to initiate antitrust proceedings relating to Google’s mobile operating system Android and related applications. This is another problem for the American corporation, but for now subsided initiative to force its distribution to smaller companies.
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Google has 10 weeks to explain
Proceedings Google violates the provisions of the European Union antitrust law, restrict competition and harm consumers recognize the members of the Commission and the company presented formal charges in a document known as a Statement of Objections. Google has ten weeks to submit a response.
It was only after her “careful examination of” the final decision whether and how much punishment can be imposed on the company. And it can be as high as 10% of the annual turnover of the corporation, and thus approx. $ 6 billion.
Statement of Objections Presentation of a new stage in the investigation, which has been going on since November 2010.
Amit Singhal, vice president of Google Search blog wrote that the company comes up with respect to the European law, but strongly disagree with the allegations and hopes that within a few weeks of complaints will be dismissed.
The decision of the Commission welcomed the European applicants Google while companies and organizations which include, among others, Microsoft.
It may be recalled that Google has repeatedly tried to reach an agreement with the European Commission. More recently, in February 2014 he proposed the introduction of a mechanism for ensuring equal treatment of competing services by the search engine. The Commission seemed to be willing to accept such a solution, but we strongly opposed this company accusing Google. After a few months, the Commission has its pressures and in September 2014. announced that Google requires greater concessions. This decision was taken shortly before entering the Commissioner. Competition by Margrethe Vestager, which replaced Joaquín Almunia.
Applications and Services Android also under scrutiny
At the same time, the Commission decided to launch an independent investigation of antitrust on Android.
The investigation has explain if the company does not abuse its dominant position to activities such as, inter alia, pressure on manufacturers of devices with Android pre-installed in them to services and applications provided by Google
The Commission received two complaints in this case, and the investigation will cover the three pleas
The first concerns allegations that Google requires independent manufacturers of smartphones and tablets that are pre-installed in only its applications, which is an illegal action limiting free competition.
Second, Google is suspected of interfering with device manufacturers who want to install the applications, to develop their own version of Android. From the point of view of European law on such practice is not allowed, because it limits the possibility of placing on the market of operating systems competitive with Google Android.
The third complaint concerns the illegal methods of competition with third-party applications through the introduction of software packages for Android containing related programs and services on Google.
It may be recalled that in February this year, similar investigation of the binding of Google Android applications began antitrust authority of the Russian Federation on the request made by the company Yandex.
In an informal response Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google vice president of engineering, wrote on a blog that’s all agreements with partners are voluntary, and the Android system can be used without the use of Google applications and services.
In contrast, measures to prevent the proliferation of Android have several users, developers, and the entire ecosystem, because they make apps for Android can run on different devices and operate under the control of different versions of the system.
In contrast, pre-load applications such as e-mail client is standard practice for competitors, such as, among others, Apple and Microsoft.
That’s why Google is waiting for a more detailed explanation of the issues and discuss them with members of the European Commission.
On the other hand Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner. Competition, which is responsible for taking these two investigations against Google, said the objective of the Commission is to use anti-liquor laws to ensure that any company operating in Europe, regardless of where it is established, does not hinder competition and limited choice of products and services by European consumers. In the case of Google are serious suspicions that the company does not comply with these rules.
In the case of an investigation into the Android, no completion dates have not been determined, and it can go on for many years.
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