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Google reportedly offered Android changes to EU in 2017
The European Union may have characterized its $5 billion Android antitrust fine as punishment for an intransigent Google, but the practical reality might be different. Bloomberg sources have claimed that Google offered to make changes to its Android policies in August 2017, not long after it received an EU antitrust penalty for its product search practices. Although Google didn't dive into specifics, it had offered to "loosen restrictions" in Android contracts and had considered distributing its apps in "two different ways."
The EU wasn't having it, according to the sources. Officials reportedly said only that a settlement was "no longer an option," and that Google's offer was "too little too late."
Also at Business Insider and BGR.
Previously: EU Fines Google $5 Billion for Android Antitrust Violations
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday July 24 2018, @04:21PM (5 children)
The EU is apparently watching out for it's citizens. That's kinda what governments are supposed to do, unless you prefer a nice benevolent (or maybe not so benevolent) dictator.
Google isn't watching out for MY interests, after all. Google probably doesn't care much for a Dane's interests, or an Italian's, or a Frenchman's. Google only cares about Google's interests, and stockholder's interests.
The EU appears to be doing the right thing here, IMO.
Google can always tell the EU that they don't want to do business in the EU, after all. They can throw a tantrum, pick up their toys, and go home. They have that right. What they don't have the right to do, is to decide that they'll play their little games to their own rules, whenever and wherever it suits them. The EU doesn't like monopolies as much as the US does.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Tuesday July 24 2018, @10:22PM
+1 Interesting
Also, who the hell are you and what have you done with our Runaway? ;-)
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday July 25 2018, @03:14AM (3 children)
The problem with benevolent dictators, even when it's not someone who's merely mislabeled for propaganda purposes, is that they don't stay benevolent. I don't agree that they are watching out for their citizens - it's more likely to be some protectionism scheme for the EU market IMHO.
Nor do they have the power to decide what you are allowed to do. I consider a business, which has to offer something useful to stay a business, and has little to no power over your life to be less of a threat than said government agency.
And that'll be fine for the businesses in the EU that are now protected from competition by Google. Best interests of the people and whatnot.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday July 25 2018, @02:11PM (2 children)
I just don't see that. And, even if that were true - they have to play by the same rules as Google is expected to play by. I just can't work up any sympathy, or even empathy for Google. Maybe I'll go sit on the stool, and see what I can do for them.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday July 26 2018, @02:56AM (1 child)
Which is fine when your market is just the EU. Having to play by multiple rules is more expensive than having to play by one set.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday July 26 2018, @02:21PM
And, yet again - that's Google's problem. Google CHOSE to "export" their product. They should be facing a lot more of this kind of scrutiny. Honduras should be giving Google hell, as well as Somalia, and Egyt, Ecuador - the list goes on and on. No nation, no group of nations, has to sit idly by, while Google (or any other American corporation) dry rapes their citizens.
What's the US going to do? Declare war on all the rest of the world, because they all got together, and bitch slapped Sucky Zuck? Damn, I'd pay to watch that. Ole Zuck called on the carpet, and fifty different nation's leaders take turns slapping him. His eyes start rolling around in his head, his head wobbles, knees go all shakey - just like an old Hanna-Barbera cartoon!