Japan's Fair Trade Commission finds Google in violation of antitrust laws and issues cease and desist order; Google expresses regret
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has issued an exclusion order to Google demanding that it cease violating the Antimonopoly Act by requiring Android smartphone manufacturers to pre-install apps such as Google Chrome and place them prominently, and to make Google the default search engine, in exchange for allowing them to include Google Play on their devices. This has resulted in Google excluding competitors from its business.
(April 15, 2025) Regarding the exclusion order against Google LLC | Fair Trade Commission
(April 15, 2025) Overview of this matter (562 KB)
According to documents from the Fair Trade Commission, Google had signed MADA (Authorization Agreements) with Android smartphone manufacturers and some telecommunications carriers to pre-install search and browser apps and place them in advantageous positions in order to allow the inclusion of Google Play, and had also signed revenue sharing agreements (RSA) to exclude competing search services in order to pay a share of revenue from search advertising. According to the Fair Trade Commission's investigation, as of the end of December 2024, Google had signed contracts with six companies, and the number of Android smartphones covered by the agreement accounted for more than 80% of the domestic market share.
You can also get an idea of what 'placement in an advantageous position' means from materials provided by the Fair Trade Commission.
The cease and desist order includes a review of the aforementioned MADA and RSA, as well as a prohibition on 'requiring pre-installation or favorable placement of search or apps in order to be permitted to use Google Play,' and 'requiring the exclusion of competing search services as a condition for payment.'
Regarding the results of the Fair Trade Commission's investigation, Google expressed regret and stated its intention to carefully examine the contents of the order and consider how to respond.
Related Posts:
in Note, Posted by logc_nt