Russia Fines Google $6.75 Million
Russia’s national regulator fined Google 438 million rubles ($6.75 million) for violating antitrust rules on Android phones, after reviewing a complaint filed by local search engine Yandex NV last year. The fine was determined as a share of Google Play’s domestic sales, a Federal Anti-Monopoly Service representative said. Local rules stipulate that fines represent 1 percent to 15 percent of a violator’s revenue for 2014, the official said.
The regulator found last year that Google violated laws by requiring mobile-device makers to install its services, including search, as a precondition to getting Google Play on gadgets powered by its Android operating system. The phone software supplier also didn’t allow third-party services, such as Yandex’s search, to be preinstalled, the regulator said at the time.
Google was ordered by FAS to change its agreements with device makers. The U.S. company has appealed the remedies. The latest appeal hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 16.
The Russian antitrust service is continuing talks with Google about an amicable settlement, according to the regulator. Still, the Mountain View, California-based technology company should pay the fine within 60 days.