Google challenges EU’s record $5 billion antitrust fine

Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Alphabet’s Google unit on Tuesday challenged a record 4.34 billion euro ($5 billion) fine imposed by European competition regulators three months ago for using its popular Android mobile operating system to thwart rivals. “We have now filed an appeal against the EC’s Android decision in the EU General Court,” Google said in an email. The company had previously said it would take the case to Europe’s second-highest court in Luxembourg. The company was responding to arguments made by Chief Executive Sundar Pichai on the day of the EU ruling in July, the main one being that Android has created more choice for consumers, not less. The European Commission said in its July decision that Google has been abusing its dominant market position since 2011. Android, which device makers use for free, is on about 80 percent of the world’s smartphones. EU law enforcement said Google’s illegal practices included forcing manufacturers to preinstall Google Search and the Chrome browser, along with the Google Play app store, on Android devices. EU antitrust regulators said the company also paid manufacturers to preinstall only Google Search and blocked them from using rival Android systems. The complicated case could take several years for judges to rule on the matter. A final appeal is possible at Europe’s highest court, the Court of Justice of the European Union, but only on legal issues. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee. Editing by Jane Merriman)