Google is making certain adjustments to Android in India in accordance with instructions given by the competition regulator in the wake of fines levied by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Significant changes may have an effect on Google’s Android contracts with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Google has stated that in addition to giving Indian users the option to select a default search engine when they set up their Android phone, it will also permit other manufacturers to create forked Android versions, which are distinct variants lacking key Google services.
The default search engine choice for users, which is currently Google, will no longer exist.
“We take seriously our pledge to follow the local laws and regulations in India. Google announced the changes in a blog post. “Recent orders from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for Android and Play require us to make major changes for India, and now we’ve informed the CCI of how we will be complying with their orders,” the company confirmed.
The improvements follow the Supreme Court bench’s ruling that the CCI conclusions cannot be characterised as “without jurisdiction or with clear error” and affirming the NCLAT order but rejecting to provide Google temporary relief.
The panel gave Google seven days to deposit 10% of the Rs 1,337.76 crore penalty decided by the CCI and ordered the NCLAT to rule on Google’s appeal by March 31.
Google claimed that the CCI copied and pasted portions of a European court order without looking at related Indian material.
In a second case, the CCI fined Google Rs 936.44 crore for abusing its dominant position with regard to its Play Store policy.
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