Getting the Boot: Advocate General Pushes for Google to Cop a Billion-Euro Fine
Google faces substantial financial penalty, advocated by the Advocate General.
In the latest blow to tech giant Google, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is backing a billion-euro fine. Google had appealed the €4.1 billion penalty imposed initially for abusing its market position.
Juliane Kokott, the Advocate General, declared Google's objections to the fine as bunk in her conclusions. While the Advocate General's opinion doesn't bind the judges, they often toe the line.
The European Commission slammed Google for imposing illegal restrictions on device manufacturers and mobile network operators. According to the Commission, these restrictions demanded that manufacturers pre-install Google's search app and browser to obtain a Play Store license.
Market Dominance and the Cash Cow Google's iron grip on search services has become a cash cow for increased advertising revenue. The EU Commission fined Google €4.3 billion for this abuse of its position in 2018. After the EU court adjusted the fine to around €4.1 billion, Google is now being advised to swallow it.
Unhappy with the conclusions, Google expressed dissatisfaction. "If the Court shares this stance, it will thwart investments in open platforms, making Android users, partners, and developers worse off," said the company.
Source: ntv.de, lar/dpa
- European Court of Justice
- Justice
- Luxembourg
Enrichment Data:
The Advocate General's stance in the case indicates a strong push for the ECJ to dismiss Google's appeal. Google's abuse of its dominance in the Android ecosystem was characterized by anticompetitive contractual restrictions such as bundling Google search and Chrome browser with the Play Store and enforcing anti-fragmentation agreements. Such practices were found to stifle competition in the mobile device and services market[1].
Kokott affirms Google's dominant position in various Android ecosystem segments and argues that leveraging network effects played a significant role in ensuring users utilized Google Search, granting it access to valuable data to improve its services[2][3][4]. The Advocate General's opinion endorses the Commission's substantial fine as justified.
Though the Advocate General's recommendations are not legally binding, the ECJ typically follows such advice. The court's final ruling is expected soon, but Kokott’s stance marks a significant setback for Google's attempts to overturn the fine[2][3].
- The Advocate General's stance in the case hints at a potential future dismissal of Google's appeal by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), with Google accused of abusing its dominance in the Android ecosystem through anticompetitive contractual restrictions.
- In light of the Advocate General's opinion, one can anticipate that the ECJ might consider vocational training in the form of compliance with community policy, especially in relation to the finance and business aspects of Google's practices within the industry, as a means to avoid future penalties.
