Official: Russian antitrust to decide on Google penalty in 3-6 mos

MOSCOW, Oct 16 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service will decide on whether and how to impose a revenue-based fine on Google because of its abuse of the Android market dominating position in the next three to six months, Deputy Director of the authority Andrei Tsarikovsky told PRIME Friday.

“In fact, cases on acts punishable under administrative law are proceeded within a standard period from three months to half a year. Maybe, a little earlier, maybe with a small delay,” Tsarikovsky said. “There is a chance they will be charged a revenue-based fine for the applications market.”

The antimonopoly service opened the case against Google in February following a claim from Russian Internet giant Yandex. The Russian company said that Google used its unique position in mobile operating systems to bar mobile phone producers from installing applications of other software producers, including Yandex, during the default setup of the Android operating system.

The penalty could amount to 15% of Google’s revenue under the Russian law.

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