Google and CCI Resolve their Antitrust Dispute Regarding Google's Use of Smart TVs

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said in a statement that Google has become the first company to use the recently implemented settlement framework in India. The company has been ordered to pay INR 20 crore to settle an antitrust investigation into claims of its anti-competitive behaviour in the smart TV market.

The ruling forces the tech giant to unbundle its Play Store and Play Services on Android TVs in the nation, marking a significant change in the regulatory environment. Google would be required to pay INR 20 crore as part of the settlement agreement after a 15% scheme-related reduction.

What are the Outcomes of CCI’s Investigation?

In a statement on April 21, CCI said that its investigation had concluded that Google's agreements with the Television App Distribution Agreement (TADA) and the Android Compatibility Commitments (ACC), when executed together, allegedly imposed unfair terms.

Hence, it further prevents television makers from using or developing Android forks, preventing the development of new apps, and requiring the pre-installation of its entire app bundle, Google TV Services.

According to the agency, 45 parties submitted comments and concerns over Google's settlement application. CCI added that after reviewing the settlement plan, the Commission noted that Google will grant an independent licence for the Play Store and Play Services for Android smart TVs in India. Hence, it will be done as part of the "New India Agreement". The move will eliminate the need to set default placement criteria or bundle these services.

EU Planning a Stringent Action Against the Tech Giant

While CCI is settling the matter with Google, its European counterpart is allegedly considering taking action against Big Tech, if trade discussions between the EU and the US, following President Trump's massive tariffs, fail.

The main thrust of the accusation against Google LLC, Google India Private Limited, and two other parties was that Google abused its power by imposing restrictive agreements on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

These agreements included mandatory Play Store bundling with the Android TV operating system and anti-fragmentation agreements that prohibited the use or development of competing forked Android versions.

About CCI?

The Indian government created the Competition Commission of India (CCI) as a statutory agency to guard against actions that hurt competition, encourage fair competition, and safeguard the interests of consumers. It was created in accordance with the 2002 Competition Act and went into full operation in 2009.

 The CCI wants India to have a strong competitive environment. In addition, the Commission also advocates for competition, raises public awareness, and provides training on competition-related matters. It also provides an opinion on competition-related matters upon referral from a governmental entity created under any law.