Google acts on EU Commission’s Android antitrust ruling

Google has announced the measures it will take in Europe to comply with the recent antitrust ruling against its handling of Android, while it still appeals the original judgement.

It was back in July that the EU fined Google $5 billion for antitrust violations related to Android. The EU Commission ruled that Google used Android to boost its market share by insisting that phone manufacturers who used Android pre-installed Google Search and its Chrome browser.

Google has revealed that it has been working on complying with the decision, and that it has now informed the European Commission of changes it will make while its appeal to General Court of the European Union is pending. The appeal was filed last week.

There are four initiatives outlined: those wishing to distribute Google apps may also build forked, non-standard Android devices, the Google mobile application suite will be licensed separately, there will be separate licenses for the Google Search app and Chrome and there will be new commercial agreements for these two areas.

Google apps

First, Google says it is updating the compatibility agreements with mobile device makers that set out how Android is used to develop smartphones and tablets. It means those wishing to distribute Google apps may also build non-compatible, or forked, smartphones and tablets for the European Economic Area (EEA).

Mobile application suite

Device manufacturers will also be able to license the Google mobile application suite separately from the Google Search App or the Chrome browser. Hiroshi Lockheimer
Google’s Senior Vice President, Platforms & Ecosystems, explains:

Since the pre-installation of Google Search and Chrome together with our other apps helped us fund the development and free distribution of Android, we will introduce a new paid licensing agreement for smartphones and tablets shipped into the EEA. Android will remain free and open source.

Separate licenses

Thirdly, Google also will offer separate licenses to the Google Search app and to Chrome.

Commercial agreements

Finally, Google says it will also offer new commercial agreements to partners for the non-exclusive pre-installation and placement of Google Search and Chrome.

The new licensing options will come into effect on 29 October 2018, for all new smartphones and tablets launched in the EEA.

“We’ll be working closely with our Android partners in the coming weeks and months to transition to the new agreements. And of course, we remain deeply committed to continued innovation for the Android ecosystem,” says Lockheimer.

See also: European Commission charges Google with Android antitrust violations

See also: EU fines Google: Android and the centrality of Google Play Services