The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered an investigation into Google over its Android TV operating system (OS) used in smart TVs. The competition watchdog is specifically looking into Google's licensing deals with smart TV manufacturers. "The emerging smart TV sector in India is thriving, due in part to Google’s free licensing model and Android TV competes with numerous well-established TV OSs such as FireOS, Tizen, and WebOS. We are confident that our smart TV licensing practices are in compliance with all applicable competition laws," a Google spokesperson told MediaNama. CCI has asked the Director-General to carry out the investigation and submit the report within a period of 60 days from the date of receipt of this order (June 22, 2021). CCI is studying two main markets for this investigation: the market for licensable smart TV operating systems in India the market for app stores for smart TV operating systems in India Why was this investigation ordered? The investigation is a result of a case filed by antitrust lawyers Kshitiz Arya and Purushottam Anand last May. The two lawyers alleged that Google is guilty of anti-competitive practices under Section 3 and Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002 because it is abusing its dominant position and entering into anti-competitive agreements with smart TV manufacturers like Xiaomi and TCL, who are named as opposite parties in the case along with Google. Google's dominant position in the smart TV OS market More than 75% market share: Google's Android TV has a market share…
