Google proposes Android contract changes to address Search antitrust

Along with different treatments, the Justice Division in November shared that it needs Google to sell Chrome. Google today shared its personal treatments proposal. 

We don’t suggest these adjustments flippantly. They might come at a price to our companions by regulating how they have to go about selecting the perfect search engine for his or her clients. And they’d impose burdensome restrictions and oversight over contracts which have diminished costs for gadgets and supported innovation in rival browsers, each of which have been good for shoppers.

— Google

Google is open to adjustments that may imply that Android OEMs don’t must license Google Search or Chrome to get entry to (preload) the Play Retailer or different first-party functions. 

…prohibits Google from conditioning licensing, cost, or some other type of consideration on an Android associate agreeing to not preload or place rival basic search engines like google or third-party browsers on cellular gadgets.

Moreover, Android companions can “license Google Play, Search, and/or Chrome with out additionally licensing Google’s Gemini Assistant cellular software.” That is to handle future competitors. 

…prohibits [Google] from conditioning consideration on a associate refraining from the preload of rival generative AI assistive chatbot providers.

In the meantime, Google nonetheless needs the power to pay to be the default search engine in browsers like Safari and Firefox, however will restrict these contracts to an annual foundation to permit for extra competitors. Moreover, a browser may “set completely different search engines like google because the default throughout completely different browser working system variations and completely different looking modes” (like for personal looking). 

Lastly, whereas the DOJ needs any treatment to final for 10 years, Google is barely proposing a three-year interval citing that the “tempo of innovation in search has been extraordinary.”

Google will argue that the DOJ’s different proposals regarding sharing Search and advertisements information with third-parties to permit for the creation of opponents is just too broad. It’s additionally against divesting Chrome and/or Android.

Google’s proposals are topic to alter with a listening to between Google and the DOJ set for April of 2025. The choose overseeing the case is anticipated to rule earlier than September 2025, with Google nonetheless planning to enchantment the underlying resolution.

Updating…