ICLE Scholars Available to Discuss EU Court Ruling in Google Android Case

LUXEMBOURG CITY (Sept. 14, 2022) — The International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) today expressed disappointment with the decision by the General Court of the European Union largely upholding the European Commission’s 2019 decision that terms imposed by Google parent Alphabet on manufacturers of Google Android mobile devices abused what the Commission deemed a dominant market position.

The following quote may be attributed to ICLE Director of Competition Policy Dirk Auer:

“Today’s ruling is a strong endorsement of the formalistic approach to competition law that has been a hallmark of Margrethe Vestager’s tenure. However, the upper court in Luxembourg has repeatedly rebuked this vision of competition enforcement, in favor of a more economically driven approach. There is thus every reason to believe Alphabet will appeal the ruling, and the outcome of those proceedings is anything but a foregone conclusion. The upshot is that, while the Commission may have won today’s battle, this merely sets up a deeper conflict surrounding the future direction of European competition law.”

For in-depth analysis of the original Commission ruling, see the February 2020 ICLE white paper “Making Sense of the Google Android Decision.” Journalists interested in interviewing Auer or other ICLE scholars about the decision should contact ICLE Editor-in-Chief R.J. Lehmann at [email protected] or 1-908-265-5272.