Slashdot Mirror
Google Appeals $5 Billion EU Fine In Android Case (wsj.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Wall Street Journal: Alphabet's Google on Tuesday said it filed an appeal of the European Union's $4.97 billion antitrust fine (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternative source) for allegedly abusing the dominance of its Android operating system for mobile phones. But Google said it has no plans to ask for so-called interim measures to pause application of the decision. Without further action, Google will have to meet a deadline at the end of October to end the behavior the EU says is anticompetitive or face additional fines of up to 5% of average daily global revenue for each day it doesn't comply. Google had promised that it would appeal the decision when the European Commission, the bloc's antitrust regulator, delivered it in mid-July. The commission said that Google broke the block's competition laws in part by strong-arming phone makers that use its free Android operating system to pre-install its namesake search engine, from which the company makes the bulk of its advertising revenue.
In the Android case, the European Commission has ordered Google to stop making phone manufacturers pre-install its search app and the Chrome web browser if they want to pre-install Google's Play store, which is the main way to download Android apps. The bloc also ordered Google to end restrictions that discourage manufacturers from selling devices that run unofficial versions of Android. It contends both restrictions illegally constrained competing search engines and operating systems. Google has argued that Android, which is free for manufacturers to use, has increased competition among smartphone makers, lowering prices for consumers. The company has said the allegation that it stymied competing apps is false because manufacturers typically install many rival apps on Android devices, and consumers can easily download others.
In the Android case, the European Commission has ordered Google to stop making phone manufacturers pre-install its search app and the Chrome web browser if they want to pre-install Google's Play store, which is the main way to download Android apps. The bloc also ordered Google to end restrictions that discourage manufacturers from selling devices that run unofficial versions of Android. It contends both restrictions illegally constrained competing search engines and operating systems. Google has argued that Android, which is free for manufacturers to use, has increased competition among smartphone makers, lowering prices for consumers. The company has said the allegation that it stymied competing apps is false because manufacturers typically install many rival apps on Android devices, and consumers can easily download others.
The bloc also ordered Google to end restrictions that discourage manufacturers from selling devices that run unofficial versions of Android.
So you make a free, open source system and the antitrust laws bring additional requirements on you? Google may very well say "OK, it's all proprietary from now on, go fuck yourself. No unofficial versions of Android at all, are you happy now?". Why would they have to put up with this absurdity when say Microsoft has never been bothered with it?
Is that what the incompetent bureaucrats are aiming for? After all, even the parliament approved a stupid copyright law recently, the EU is really making some big mistakes these days.
How M$ anti trust case going as you can't buy a PC without windows on
This is really a silly money grab by the EU. Instead of raising taxes, they just fine businesses for delusional things.
Is there a monopoly or a trust when you don't have to use Android devices?
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
Undeserved downvote here.
I actually kind of hope google does exactly this. Not particularly a fan of the company in a number of ways, but this is BS.
Of course, if Google does go proprietary, the EU will probably just outright steal it. Seems about par for the course.
"Why would they have to put up with this absurdity when say Microsoft has never been bothered with it?"
Oh no? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/mobile/business/8415902.stm
I'm not saying it's necessarily equal (but could be) to take around twice as much from Google for similar action, but still. They are forcing manufacturers install unrelated crap on the phones to get Google play access.
The EU purports to be all powerful, but always needs MORE MONEY!!!111
not sure why this got modded down. I would have modded it interesting
have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
Good way to show your ignorance.
I bet that even if Google complied fully, that all of the things that the EU commission is complaining about, will still get installed. Manufacturers have a duty to put out a piece of hardware with appropriate software installed that will provide the consumer with the most value and present the least trouble to that consumer. Google search, and chrome, which are everywhere and well supported are a good base to start with.
What are you talking about? Google services including the Play Store are not at all open source. The EU has no problem with Android (misleading headline). You must be trolling if you think Microsoft has never been bothered by the EU over antitrust suits related to bundling web browsers.
Why are you so mad, even if it's just a money grab, aren't you rooting for the corporations to fuck people over just to make maximum amount of money to investors and CEOs? How is it different if EU does it?
And you don't seem to understand what is open and what is not and what choices are there to be made.
Not really free: Manufacturers were required to bundle Google software.
Not really open source: Google engineered the graphics API specifically to let the graphics SoC stay closed source.
So, somewhat free and somewhat open source. Now, to what degree? Well, we could count LoC. And we could sort through the functional parts and give scores based on perceived importance. Or, we could talk about the end result. Lets go with the latter:
1. Can a user modify the source code and compile the result to run on the device? Sometimes. If the SoC OEM been kind enough to provide updated device trees and a compatible license. But EOL comes eventually.
2. Can a manufacturer produce a device without Google's approval? Nope. That's what the fine is for.
3. Is there a patent fees to consider? Yes. Microsoft been extorting companies for years over these.
So, for the industry, Android isn't free to use or open source. From there the EU regulator only needs to ask one thing: Is Google exploiting their market dominance to further their hold on the market. And the answer most people agreed on is Yes. They do. They're not some non-profit like the linux foundation that has multiple competing industry members. They're a single company. They dominate the market. And they play dirty. So, like Microsoft at the time, they need to be put down a notch if not for good.
Don't like it? Don't do business in the EU.
Firstly:
That's the joke...
Secondly, if you think Google needs a lot less of your money, then stop associating with Google (directly or indirectly); in a free society, you have the right to associate or NOT associate—vote with your capital.
Thirdly, just try stopping your association with Government, and see what happens to you; I think we know who the actually dangerous monopoly is, and it ain't Google.
Anyone who has flashed a custom ROM to a phone should know it isn't as simple as installing an apk (Android app file) to add a working Google Play store if it's missing to begin with. Or it hadn't been last I tried this (year or two ago now probably).
Yes, if users can do what a manufacturer didn't after buying the phone then I see less issue with this type of requirement by Google. It'd be interesting if they forced the same thing on users (after fixing the process). I've never seen one app forcibly install another.
It used to be said of the two great British universities - in light of their differing cultures - "Cambridge breeds heretics, Oxford burns them".
I think we need an updated version of this for the contemporary tech industry.
"The USA breeds innovators. The EU milks them."
Google services including the Play Store are not at all open source.
Having attempted to find some of the source code for those Google services, I can also attest they are closed source and not publicly available.
Money grab. That's what this is.
And because /. is infested with EUSSR socialists, you get downmodded. Just like this post will be.
Let's face it, the EUSSR is nothing more than a open market hating near-communist entity. I welcome the day that Google says: Fuck It, we'll stop doing business in Europe. Watch how those fucked up politicians start whining. As well as the poor fuckers that didn't vote for them (remember, the EU was created against the voters wishes).
I'm not a complete idiot... Some parts are missing.
How much do the Russians pay you to post this crap?