Google appeals against Russian courts’ decisions in favor of antitrust

MOSCOW, Oct 19 (PRIME) -- The Moscow Arbitration Court received on Tuesday an appeal from Google against decisions of two courts, which had upheld a decision of the antimonopoly service finding the U.S. company guilty of abusing its dominance on the local market of preinstalled application stores.

The appeal is against the decisions of the court and the ruling of the Ninth Arbitration Court of Appeal. The claim will be handed over to the arbitration court of the Moscow District.

“We’re sure that the Android platform stimulates competition and price reduction, and gives broad opportunities to users, developers and smartphone manufacturers. We’ll be glad to demonstrate in the cassation court that Android helps establish a successful and, what is important, sustainable ecosystem,” a spokesperson for Google said.

The Federal Antimonopoly Service in September 2015 found Google guilty of abusing its dominant position with its Android system and forcing device manufacturers to install application store Google Play in a tie-up with other programs of the company.

The service fined Google 438 million rubles, and the deadline for the payment expired in August. The company can face another fine of up to 500,000 rubles for disrespect of the order.

The antitrust authority’s Igor Artemyev said on Tuesday the service is not discussing an amicable agreement with Google. The truce was theoretically possible, he said in September, though hardly achievable.

(62.8900 rubles – U.S. $1)

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