The nation's competition watchdog has fined Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., 1,337 crores for engaging in anti-competitive behavior about Android mobile devices.
Google was penalized by India's Competition Commission (CCI) for "abusing dominant position in numerous regions within the Android mobile device ecosystem."
The Android OS (operating system) is run and managed by Google, and the company also grants licenses for its other proprietary programs. OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) employ this OS and Google's apps in their mobile devices.
To establish their rights and duties, they thus sign several contracts, such as the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA).
The most popular search entry points, including the search app, widget, and Chrome browser, are pre-installed on Android devices, according to MADA, which gave Google's search services a significant competitive advantage over its rivals, the CCI said in a statement today.
"Google also gained a substantial competitive advantage over its rivals concerning YouTube, additional revenue-generating software for Android smartphones. The competitors of these services could never obtain the same market access that Google gained and established for itself through MADA. By erecting considerable barriers to entry, Google may prevent its rivals from entering or operating in the relevant areas, "CCI stated