Google Responds to South Korean Antitrust Claims Related to Android

Google had to clear a few hurdles to close its acquisition of ITA Software, which it did last week. This was finally accomplished after numerous anti-competition cries from competitors, but provided G...
Google Responds to South Korean Antitrust Claims Related to Android
Written by Chris Crum

Google had to clear a few hurdles to close its acquisition of ITA Software, which it did last week. This was finally accomplished after numerous anti-competition cries from competitors, but provided Google made good on certain stipulations, the Department of Justice ultimately gave Google its blessings.

Last week more Google-related antitrust allegations erupted, this time out of South Korea, where the country’s top Internet portals made claims about an Android/Google lock-in.

As previously reported, NHN Corp and Daum Communications filed a complaint with the country’s Fair Trade Commission, saying Google was preventing competition, using the status of Android as a dominant mobile operaring system to make it hard for users to use search engines other than Google.

Daum Speaks out on google

Today, Google has responded, saying, “Android is an open platform, and carrier and [original equipment manufacturer] partners are free to decide which applications and services to include on their Android phones.” (per a statement obtained by PCWorld).

That publication also has a statement from a Daum spokesperson, saying: “We filed complaints against Google, arguing that Google used direct and indirect influence over Android-based phone manufacturers to block other search engines or applications from being placed before Google’s search box.”

As we pointed out in a previous article, Google has had legal issues in South Korean before. Specifically, police actually raided Google’s offices over its Street View data collection ordeal, which was later determined to be a violation of privacy laws.

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