Google has filed a lawsuit against South Korea's antitrust regulator to overturn the regulator's decision to penalize the global technology giant for pressing smartphone makers into only using its Android mobile operating system, sources said on Wednesday. The legal action by Google against the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) came after the KFTC decided in September last year to fine Google 207.4 billion won ($173 million) for obstructing local smartphone makers, such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, from using operating systems developed by rivals. According to the sources, the suit was filed on January 24 in an attempt to annul the KFTC's decision to impose the fine and order Google LLC, Google Asia Pacific and Google Korea to take corrective steps to ban its practice of forcing local smartphone makers not to use operating systems developed by rivals, reports Yonhap news agency.
The KFTC said Google has hampered market
competition by requiring
smartphone makers to enter into an "anti-fragmentation agreement (AFA)"
when they sign key conGoogle sues S Korean regulator
tracts with Google over
app store licenses and early access to OS.
Under the AFA, device makers were not permitted to install modified
versions of Android OS,
known as "Android
forks," on their smartphones, smartwatches
and smart TV products.
They also were not allowed to develop their
own Android forks.
This practice has
helped Google cement its
market dominance in the
mobile platform market
and undermined innovation in the development of
new operating systems for
smart devices, according
to the regulator.
Appealing the regulator's decision, Google said
Android's compatibility
program has spurred incredible hardware and
software innovation, and
brought enormous success
to Korean OEMs and developers, leading to
"greater choice, quality
and better user experience
for Korean consumers."
The KFTC's decision
"ignores these benefits
and will undermine the
advantages enjoyed by
consumers", the tech giant said. The tech giant
separately applied for an
injunction with the Seoul
High Court on the decision, of which the trial
will begin on February
25. (IANS)
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