New Delhi: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has been pushing for drastic measures to address Google’s alleged anti-competitive practices in the search engine market, including potentially forcing the company to divest its Chrome browser. However, in a recent counterproposal, Google has suggested a less drastic approach, focusing on modifying its existing agreements with partners instead of facing a company breakup.
Google’s response to the DOJ’s demands outlines a series of proposed changes to its business practices. These include adjustments to its payment deals with companies like Apple and Mozilla, which prioritize Google’s services on their platforms. The company also proposes modifications to its licensing agreements with Android phone manufacturers and contracts with wireless carriers.
One key element of Google’s proposal involves unbundling its core apps. For three years, Google would refrain from requiring companies to pre-install or prioritize other Google apps, such as Chrome, Google Assistant, and the Gemini AI assistant, as a condition for licensing core apps like Chrome, Search, and Google Play. This move aims to increase competition and give consumers more choices.
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Furthermore, Google suggests allowing payments for default search placement in browsers while enabling multiple agreements across different platforms or browsing modes. The company also proposes regular reviews of these deals to ensure ongoing flexibility and competition.
It’s important to note that Google’s proposal does not address the DOJ’s suggestion that the company share search data with competitors to level the playing field. Despite these proposed remedies, Google plans to appeal Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling, which declared the company a monopolist that engaged in anti-competitive practices to maintain its dominance. The company has committed to submitting a revised proposal by March 7th, ahead of a trial scheduled for April to address the specifics of its proposed remedies.
This ongoing legal battle highlights the complexities of regulating the tech industry and the challenges of balancing innovation with competition. Google’s counterproposal offers a potential alternative to a more drastic government intervention, but whether it will satisfy the DOJ and ultimately address the concerns raised in the antitrust lawsuit remains to be seen.
