Russian Court to Consider Google Appeal Against Antimonopoly Service Ruling

The Moscow Arbitration Court will resume the adjourned sitting on Friday to consider Google’s appeal to cancel Russian Antimonopoly Service (FAS)’s decision declaring the US tech giant as limiting competition, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The hearing on the merits began Thursday behind the closed doors, but was later adjourned by the Court.

Last September, FAS found Google in violation of a number of Russia’s anti-monopoly laws, including abuse of dominance in the pre-installed Android software applications market. The Service, acting on the Yandex search engine’s complaint, ordered Google to correct violations by adjusting agreements with device manufacturers by December 18.

The Court granted Yandex’s intervention request, then granted Google’s request for a closed-door hearing based on what the company claims are materials containing commercial trade secrets. Yandex requested open-door hearings.

FAS said in December that Google may face a fine of 8 percent of market turnover if no extenuating circumstances are found. It warned that the tech company may lose its right for a 1-percent fine if it decides to litigate instead of rectifying the violation.