Google plans to charge licensing fees on terminals that standardize Google Play and Google-made applications in the EU

by etnyk

Google announced a policy to revise the Android license in the EU region and announced plans to charge a license fee for Google Play and other Google-made applications, which are distribution services for Android newly.

Complying with the EC's Android decision
https://www.blog.google/around-the-globe/google-europe/complying-ecs-android-decision/

Google will start charging Android device makers a fee for using the apps in Europe - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/16/17984074/google-eu-android-licensing-bundle-chrome-search

This was triggered by a case where the EU imposed a fine of 4,340 million euros (about 570 billion yen) against Google in July 2018 in violation of the European Union Competition Act (Antitrust Law) I will. The European Commission (EC) violated the EU Anti-Monopoly Act because "Google has requested mobile device manufacturers to pre-install Google-made applications as Google Play license terms" He insisted that he had ordered payment of penalties.

According to Google EU antitrust violation, Google 's CEO suggests that Google will disable Android free of charge by 570 billion yen - GIGAZINE

Google has not charged a fee for the apps that are included with Android and Android. However, according to the judgment of the EU, it is difficult to continue the system that provides Android and accompanying Google-made applications free of charge by dividing Android and Google-made applications.

So, Google's senior vice president Hiroshi Rockheimer announced in a statement that it will collect license fees for Google Play and other Google-made applications in the EU. The basic Android OS remains free and open source, but if the manufacturer wishes to have Google's app or Google Play on a smartphone or tablet, you will need to pay a separate license fee.

Google Play and other Google-made applications are bundled together with Android under a paid license agreement. Although license fee is unknown at the time of article creation stage, it is speculated that many manufacturers will load Google Play and Google made applications as usual by paying license fee. The inability to use Google Play which can access a wide range of Android applications, and the inability to use related applications useful for Android OS is a major disadvantage, so after all license fees are consumed in the form of higher terminal price It will be borne by the person.

by Kārlis Dambrāns

Of course, the manufacturers are still giving choices, and even with Android, you can sell devices that do not have Google Play or Google made applications without paying license fee. While Google may lose the huge revenue generated from Google-made apps and Chrome, it may be a great opportunity for competing browsers and search engines.

This decision corresponds to the judgment decided by the EC, and Google said that it is appealing in search of the trial again at the time of article creation. However, as long as the decision is not overturned, measures for a new license fee will start on October 29, 2018. EC spokesperson claimed that "EC did not ask Google to charge a license fee, but this decision was made by Google's responsibility to the last," we will continue to pay close attention to Google's behavior I said I would go.