Tech Japan Fair Trade Commission issues cease-and-desist order to Google

thomas · 15 Apr 2025

Today, the Japan Fair Trade Commission issued a cease-and-desist order against Google. It accused the tech giant of monopolistic practices that require smartphone manufacturers to prioritize their search services on Android devices.

The commission found that since at least July 2020, Google has pressured at least six Android phone makers to favour its search engine and browser as part of their licensing agreements for the Google Play Store—affecting about 80% of Android phones sold in Japan. Additionally, Google was found to have offered a share of its search revenue to five business partners, including smartphone manufacturers and telecom firms, on the condition that its services be featured on the home screen and that rival services be excluded.

This is the first time that a cease and desist order has been issued to a major tech company, which suggests that a tougher stance is being taken by Japanese authorities to create fair and competitive environments in line with the authorities in Europe and the U.S. The commission took commitment procedures against Google in April 2024, which did not involve issuing a finding on whether the company violated the law but did require Google to submit a plan to prevent further acts that could be considered a violation. Tuesday's order by the commission took the impact of the violation into greater consideration. It orders Google to stop forcing its own services to be installed on the initial screen of smartphones and to allow for the installation of other companies' services. The conditions for the distribution of advertising revenue will also be relaxed, giving manufacturers more options.

Paywall alert:

Japan antitrust watchdog hits Google with cease and desist order

Commission says tech giant makes unfair demands on Android manufacturers

asia.nikkei.com

Ukigumo · 15 Apr 2025

Business, capitalism, greed. Is it any wonder that the merchant class was at the bottom of the pile in feudal Japan?

mdchachi · 15 Apr 2025

Ukigumo said:
Business, capitalism, greed. Is it any wonder that the merchant class was at the bottom of the pile in feudal Japan?

Modern understanding is that they were equal to the other classes and not hierarchical. In other words, peasants, craftsmen, and merchants are not a social pecking order, but a social classification (wikipedia).

"it is not appropriate to imagine the caste-based society of the early modern period in terms of the hierarchical relationship (pyramid-shaped) of status, such as "warrior-farmer-industry-commerce-peasant." The ruling class is the samurai, but there is basically no domination or hierarchical relationship between other classes (in the past, there was an explanation that "agriculture" was higher than "industry and commerce" because it was the foundation of the country, but there was no such hierarchical relationship), and people of a status who have been severely discriminated against apart from peasants and townspeople are not at the bottom of society, but are "outside" society, so to speak." (reference)

Tech Japan Fair Trade Commission issues cease-and-desist order to Google

thomas

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Japan antitrust watchdog hits Google with cease and desist order

Ukigumo

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mdchachi

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