Google is being sued in federal court in San Jose, California on a case that claims Google is violating monopoly laws in their Android OS App tie-ins. Google requires manufacturers, such as Samsung, use less popular applications if they want to include apps like YouTube. The suit claims that this requirement is “designed to maintain and extend its monopolies.”
With Android powering 78% of smart phones as of last year, Google wields a lot of power. Android has a “Mobile Application Distribution Agreement” or MADA, which requires all Android device makers to pre-load a variety of apps in their suite, even if the manufacturer doesn’t want them. The suit is being filed by an owner of an HTC EVO 3D, made in 2011. The claim is that Google’s restrictions on the phone have made it more expensive for individual consumers.
Google’s Matt Kallman, responded in an email saying, “Anyone can use Android without Google and anyone can use Google without Android. Since Android’s introduction, greater competition in smartphones has given consumers more choices at lower prices.”
While the suit claims that the prices are the issue, it will likely come down to whether or not Google can legally require phone manufacturers to include their suite of apps. This may remind some people of the law suit against Microsoft over a decade ago where they were sued for including Internet Explorer in all their operating systems.
The law firm representing the plaintiff is also the same one that handled the lawsuit against Apple, alleging that they conspired with publishers to inflate electronic-book prices.
The results of this suit could change which apps come preloaded on Android powered devices, and may even extend to other phone manufacturers. Removing pre-loaded apps opens up the market for other companies to offer replacements with improved functionality.
