Seznam raised its claim for damages against Google to CZK 10 billion

The domestic internet company Seznam has increased its claim for damages against the American competitor Google by one billion to ten billion CZK. According to Seznam, Google is abusing its dominant position in the market for licensed operating systems for smart mobile devices and applications for the Android platform. The claim for damages will be part of the lawsuit against Google, which is being prepared by Seznam, according to the chairman of the Seznam's board of directors, Pavel Zima.

Last December, in a pre-litigation summons, the list demanded compensation from Google for CZK 9.07 billion. It was supposed to be created due to the impossibility of extending its applications to Android devices. This was prevented by Google's business agreements with Android mobile device manufacturers.

"Developments in 2020 show that the corrective regulations, in their current form, do not have the impact on market settlement that all market players had hoped for in 2019. So it is clear that Google's behavior in recent years will be much greater and more. In the planned lawsuit against Alphabet / Google, we intend to increase the original claim for damages to more than ten billion crowns," said Zima.

According to Houzarová, Android provides phone manufacturers and users with an unprecedented choice when deciding which applications people will install on their devices, which they will use and which they will set as default. "At the same time, the Android operating system allows millions of application developers around the world, including Seznam, to successfully grow their businesses," she added.

As early as 2018, the European Commission ruled that Google was violating EU competition rules by its conduct. The company then came up with the Choice screen program, which was to allow users to choose the applications to install on their device and modified the contracts with device manufacturers. According to Seznam, however, Google did not stop abusing its dominant position. "Despite the fact that the Seznam.cz Search service grew by a total of six percent year-on-year and has so far recorded approximately 140,000 selections in the Choice screen program. Formally introduced adjustments have not opened the market sufficiently, as other providers of alternative search engines point out. services operating in the EU, "added Zima.

According to spokeswoman Alžběta Houzarová, the Czech Google Representation does not comment on potential or ongoing litigation.

Source: CTK