An EU court backs the European Commission's decision to fine Google over Android antitrust breaches but trims the record €4.3B fine to €4.1B; Google can appeal
Google lost most of the first round of its battle to topple a record 4.3 billion-euro ($4.3 billion) …
BloombergStephanie Bodoni
Context & Ripple Effects
The ruling is the first major judicial test of the Commission's 2018 Android antitrust penalty, which targeted practices the Commission said reinforced Google's search dominance. The reduced amount leaves the central enforcement finding intact rather than reversing the case.
Google receives a €200M reduction, but remains subject to a €4.1B penalty and can pursue a further appeal.
The European Commission retains court backing for its Android enforcement decision, despite the narrower fine.
Second-order effects
The appeal route keeps Google and the Commission engaged in litigation over the Android case, rather than allowing either side to treat the judgment as final.
Third-order effects
The later European Court of Justice confirmation shows this intermediate ruling becoming durable judicial support for the Commission's antitrust case against Google's Android conduct.
The trend: EU platform-antitrust enforcement is increasingly shaped by long appellate processes that can narrow penalties without dislodging the underlying findings.
Ever noticed how Google is always set up as default when you get a new phone? Very happy to see the European Court has upheld the Commission's decision to fine Google for its antitrust practices https://techcrunch.com/...
Brilliant! Now, @EU_Commission do Apple next. It's done arguably worse anti-competitive actions with iOS in its Maps app monopoly, browser engine monopoly, app store monopoly, in-app payment monopoly, Music and Podcast app bundling... https://twitter.com/...
You can't claim there is undue cooperation between the various branches of EU government. At precisely the moment the head of the Commission is giving her big annual speech, the EU court of justice delivers a verdict in favour of the Commission against Google in a major case.
BREAKING: Europe's top Court (mostly) sides w/ @EU_Commission in its $5bn #antitrust case against @google. Only major quibble: how Brussels dealt with Google's payments to smartphone makers https://twitter.com/...
The EU's General Court has sided with consumers in the Google Android ruling! This ruling is crucial. Google's web of restrictions deprived consumers of genuine choice in terms of search engines and browsers on their phones and tablets https://www.beuc.eu/... https://twitter.com/…
European Court of Justice sets EU fine against Google at €4 billion for “unlawful restrictions on manufacturers of Android mobile devices”. The digital giant has the right to appeal https://twitter.com/...
Big day in the history of @vestager's grandstanding battle with Google, with the EU general court set to deliver a judgement at around 9.30am on the Commission's record €4.34 billion antitrust fine against Google. Here's what to look out for: https://www.politico.eu/...