Google withdrew its appeal in the Supreme Court against the NCLAT’s (National Company Law Appellate Tribunal) order refusing a stay on the CCI’s (Competition Commission of India) Rs 936 crore penalty for its alleged abuse of dominant position with regard to its Play Store policies saying the appeal has become infructous.
The bench led by the Chief Justice DY Chandrachud ‘dismissed as withdrawn’ Google’s appeal as the matter is likely to be heard in the NCLAT later this week.
The CCI in October last year, penalised the tech giant for restricting app developers from using any third party billing or payment processing services to purchase apps for in-app billion on Google Play Store. In simple language, Google Play Store is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google, from where all the apps are downloaded on the mobile phones.
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The CCI imposed a penalty of Rs 936.44 crore on Google and issued a cease-and-desist order in which the regulator prescribed eight corrective measures that Google Play needs to implement to correct the anti-competitive practices. The watchdog directed Google to allow third-party billing or payment processing services, either for in-app purchases or for purchasing apps. Google was directed by the watchdog to not discriminate against apps using third-party billing or payment processing services in any manner.
Last month, in a historic move Google suffered a major setback when NCLAT upheld the fine of Rs 1,338 crore imposed on the search giant by the CCI, saying the competition watchdog’s order did not violate the principles of natural justice.
