Google's Battle to Overturn a Massive EU Fine

EUTue Jan 28 2025
Google is back in the courtroom, fighting a whopping €4. 1 billion antitrust fine from the EU. This time, they're not just asking for a reduction, but hoping to get rid of the fine completely. The issue? Google's business practices in the mobile OS market. The EU thinks Google's deals with Android phone makers are unfair, as they made it tough for rivals to compete. Google disagrees, saying their practices actually boosted competition. The final decision is expected soon, and this time, it's the end of the road for appeals. Google's lawyer, Alfonso Lamadrid, argued that the EU didn't do its job right when it came to investigating and understanding Google's business model. He said the EU punished Google for being innovative. Google's deals required Android phone makers to pre-install apps like Google, Chrome, and the Google Play Store. In return, they got access to the Google Play app store, which is a big deal in the Western market. The EU thought this restricted competition, but Google says it opened up opportunities. This isn't the first time Google has clashed with regulators. Both the EU and US have been keeping a close eye on big tech companies, with record fines handed out in recent years. Google's 2018 fine was one of the biggest, standing at around $4. 5 billion. But Google isn't giving up without a fight. They're determined to prove their business model is fair and pro-competitive. Whether they succeed or not, this case is a big deal for both Google and the tech industry as a whole.
https://localnews.ai/article/googles-battle-to-overturn-a-massive-eu-fine-a818c5b0

questions

    Could this fine be part of a secret plot to weaken Google's market power and pave the way for a new tech giant?
    If Google is fined again, will they just rename the fine to make it sound cooler, like the 'Billionaire's Club Membership Fee'?
    How does Google argue that its deals with phone makers actually fostered competition?

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