Tribunal Rejects Google’s Plea To Block Android Antitrust Ruling

New Delhi: In a setback to Google, a tribunal on Wednesday rejected the search engine giant’s plea to block an antitrust ruling that ordered it to change its approach to its Android platform.

In October, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined Alphabet Inc’s Google $161 million for exploiting its dominant position in markets such as online search and the Android app store and asked it to change curbs on smartphone makers related to pre-installing apps.

During the hearing, Google’s counsel, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, repeatedly pushed for putting the decision on hold or extending the date of implementation of CCI’s directives beyond January 19. Sanghvi said the CCI’s decision will force the company to change its business model and harm consumer interest.

The two-member tribunal panel did not agree, saying, “We are of opinion that at the moment given the voluminous nature of the appeal, there is no need to pass any interim order.”

Google told the tribunal in a legal filing that CCI’s investigation unit copied parts of a European ruling against the US firm from a similar verdict on the abuse of market dominance of its Android operating system.