Fine on Google

On 11 August 2016, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) imposed an administrative fine upon “Google Inc.”: 438,067,400 RUB (the official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation on 11.08.2016 was 64.8137 RUB/$).

On 18 September 2015, FAS found that “Google” (“Google Inc.” and “Google Ireland Limited”) violated Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (abusing dominance).

Investigating the case, FAS Commission established that “Google” provided Google Play application stores to its counteragents – vendors of mobile devices to be preset on the devices controlled by Android OS and intended for sale in the Russian Federation (mobile devices), under the conditions including mandatory preset of Google applications and the search system and their mandatory placement in the priority positions on device home pages.

Actions undertaken by “Google” also led to prohibiting pre-set of applications from other vendors.

“We are convinced that executing the determination will enable competition development on the market of mobile software in Russia, which will have a favourable effect for consumers. All companies that supply products to the Russian Federation – including transnational corporations – must observe the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition””, pointed out Elena Zaeva, the Head of FAS Department for Regulation of Communications and Information Technologies.