Google was fined KRW 207 billion (roughly Rs. 1,300 crores) by South Korea’s antitrust regulator, saying the US know-how large abused its dominant market place to limit competitors within the cellular working system market.
The Korea Honest Commerce Fee (KFTC) investigated Google for allegedly stopping native smartphone makers from customising its Android OS.
The wonderful is the most recent antitrust setback for Google in South Korea. Earlier this month, parliament handed a invoice to ban main app retailer operators reminiscent of Google from forcing software program builders to make use of their cost programs and successfully stopping builders from charging fee on in-app purchases.
KFTC mentioned the wonderful could possibly be the ninth-biggest it has ever imposed.
It mentioned Google has hampered market competitors by requiring smartphone makers to abide by an “anti-fragmentation settlement (AFA)” after they signal key contracts with Google concerning app retailer licences.
Below the AFA, gadget makers weren’t allowed to put in modified variations of Android, referred to as “Android forks”, on their gadgets.
This follow has helped Google cement its market dominance within the cellular OS market, the KFTC mentioned.
Google was not instantly out there for touch upon Tuesday.
© Thomson Reuters 2021
