Google goes to ECJ over billion-dollar fine

Google’s dominant market position has already prompted the EU to impose heavy fines on several occasions. But the search engine giant apparently no longer wants to put up with this. In any case, the tech company does not want to pay a 4.125 billion fine, which focuses on the Android operating system. For decision or mediation in the dispute should now apparently provide the European Court of Justice.

Google Android with illegal market power?

A report from the news portal Bloomberg has made it known that Google apparently wants to go before the highest European court. After the Court of the European Union has already ruled that Android has market power that is not compatible with European competition law, the European Court of Justice is now expected to provide clarity. It is clear that the company does not want to pay the fine of 4.125 billion euros. The accusation certainly justifies the high fine. The EU complains that Google has exploited and additionally strengthened its market power by imposing questionable restrictions on other competing manufacturers and network operators.

• Have you read this? USA: Google must pay $391.5 million fine

More precisely, the corporation presented a kind of list of demands to those affected. Who fulfills this, was entitled to be able to use the coveted Google services. This includes, in addition to Android itself, essential services such as Maps and the Play Store. No other company makes it as clear as Huawei what consequences this procedure can have. After the Chinese tech company was prohibited from continuing to offer Google services in the wake of the US sanctions, it experienced a real downturn in its sales figures. In the meantime, the company has been able to launch its own operating system and app store. But by no means every company is capable of doing this. Consequently, the EU continues to accuse the search engine giant of hindering alternatives to Android through its blockade.

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Only one in five smartphones in EU without Android

A look at market share makes it clear that it is indisputable to call Google a dominant company. For example, 80 percent of all smartphone owners in the EU rely on a device running AndroidOS. The remaining fifth represents iPhone owners and iOS users, respectively. In theory, every smartphone manufacturer is allowed to use Google as an operating system. After all, it is free of charge. However, the search engine giant has certain requirements for interested parties. Only when these are fulfilled are they allowed to offer the coveted services like Google Maps, YouTube and the Play Store.