It challenges the CCI’s ruling, Google filed a complaint the with National Company Law Appeals Tribunal (NCLAT). Google has appealed a CCI decision that found the tech giant had abused its dominant position in a number of countries within the ecosystem for Android mobile devices. The company claims the ruling would increase the cost of such devices in India as a setback to Indian consumers.
Google was fined Rs 1,337.76 crore by the Competition Commission for participating in anti-competitive behavior with regard to Android smartphones. The internet giant had also been ordered to stop engaging in a number of unfair business practices by CCI in the judgment from October.
Google has now appealed the CCI’s ruling to a National Company Law Appeals Tribunal (NCLAT).
“It has decided to appeal the CCI’s ruling on Android since we feel it presents a big setback for our Indian consumers and companies that trust Android’s security features, including potentially boosting the cost of mobile devices,” a Google representative told PTI. The representative said, “We remain dedicated to users or partners and look forward to proving our case in NCLAT.
According to the firm, Android has benefited Indian consumers, developers, and Originally Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) immensely and has propelled India’s digital revolution.
According to sources, Google has asked for a stay of the order because it thinks the CCI disregarded the substantial evidence that OEMs, developers, and users had provided proving also that the open Android business model supports competition and for benefit of all parties, including India specifically.
According to the sources, the CCI decision exposed Indian customers to previously unheard-of security dangers and will increase the cost, reduce functionality, and decrease the safety of Android smartphones in India.
According to sources familiar with Google’s position, the decision would hurt Indian developers because their expenses will go up.
An appellate tribunal NCLAT is a place to appeal CCI orders.
In two CCI decisions handed down or less a week apart and in October, Google was fined more than Rs 2,200 crore.
The Competition Commission fined Google Rs 936.44 crore in its second decision against the business for abusing its dominant position with regard to its Play Store policy.
In November, Google said that it is “pausing” execution of the CCI ruling’s demand that developers utilize Play’s billing system in transactions involving the purchase of digital goods and services by Indian users while it considers its legal alternatives.
Global IT companies are attracted to India’s vast user population, tech hunger, commercial potential, and supportive legislation, which make it a key market.
Earlier this week, Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai, who was born in India, said the company supports startups and small businesses, invests in cybersecurity, offers education and skill training, and uses artificial intelligence (AI) in fields like agriculture or healthcare. He also noted that the pace of technological change in India has been extraordinary.
