Google settles antitrust probe in Android TV case

India’s competition watchdog has said it has approved a settlement proposal by Alphabet’s Google in a case regarding anticompetitive practices in the smart television market.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) had charged the US tech giant with abusing the dominant position of its Android operating system in the smart TV market in the country.

India is one of Google’s key markets.

The CCI conducted a probe after two antitrust lawyers filed a case against Google, following which the antitrust regulator found that the tech firm engaged in anti-competitive practices by creating barriers for firms wanting to use or develop modified versions of Android for smart TVs.

The regulator said Google’s mandatory preinstallation of Google Play Store and other applications, under its TV app distribution deal, amounted to misusing its dominant position.

Google later filed a settlement application in which it proposed a standalone license for its Play Store and Play Services for Android smart TVs in the country instead of bundling the services.

Under the new deal, Play Store and Play Services, which were being provided for free, will include a fee.

Google will also mail its partners selling Android TVs in India, stating they can use an open-sourced operating system without taking on any Google apps and that the smart TVs can be developed with any other operating system.

The antitrust body said the scope of the new agreement extends beyond smart TVs.

CCI also approved a final amount of Rs20.24 crore ($2.38 million) that Google will pay as part of the settlement.

Google issued a statement on Tuesday stating that it is “committed” to abiding by applicable local laws.

“We are grateful to the CCI for the opportunity to engage and present our case,” it said in the statement.

“We also thank the CCI for instituting processes which enable constructive engagements between companies and the market, allowing for continued investment and growth,” it added.