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European Commission abuse-of-dominance finding over Google's Android licensing practices

Decidedas of 31 Oct 2026European Union / EEAGoogle LLCAlphabet Inc.draft

Current status

Confirmed fact · as of 2 Jul 2026

The abuse-of-dominance finding and the revised EUR 4.125 billion fine are final following the Court of Justice judgment of 2 July 2026 (C-738/22 P).

A Court of Justice of the European Union, Judgment in Case C-738/22 P, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Android) (Press release No 93/26) (2 Jul 2026) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026

Confirmed fact · as of 2 Jul 2026

The Commission's original fine of EUR 4.34 billion was reduced to EUR 4.125 billion by the General Court; the reduced figure is the operative fine.

A General Court of the European Union, Judgment in Case T-604/18, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Android) (Press release No 147/22) (14 Sep 2022) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026 · A Court of Justice of the European Union, Judgment in Case C-738/22 P, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Android) (Press release No 93/26) (2 Jul 2026) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026

Confirmed fact · as of 31 Oct 2026

This is an EU competition (administrative) decision confirmed by the EU courts; it is not a criminal conviction.

Unanswered question · as of 31 Oct 2026

This record covers the Google Android matter only; it does not assess Google's subsequent compliance measures or separate EU proceedings concerning other Google services.

A Court of Justice of the European Union, Judgment in Case C-738/22 P, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Android) (Press release No 93/26) (2 Jul 2026) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026

Last reviewed 31 Oct 2026. An initial allegation is not the final event; this block is always shown.

How it unfolded

Issue raised · 18 Jul 2018

Proposition: The European Commission found that since 2011 Google had imposed illegal restrictions on Android device manufacturers and mobile network operators to cement the dominant position of its general internet search service: tying the Google Search and Chrome apps to the Play Store, making payments conditional on exclusive pre-installation of Google Search, and preventing manufacturers that wished to pre-install Google apps from selling devices running unapproved Android versions.

Affected parties: Google LLC, Alphabet Inc., European Commission, Android device manufacturers, Mobile network operators

Originating record: A European Commission, Antitrust: Commission fines Google EUR 4.34 billion for illegal practices regarding Android mobile devices (Press release IP/18/4581) (18 Jul 2018) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026

Response · Google / Alphabet Inc. · 18 Jul 2018

Attributed claim · as of 2 Jul 2026

Google disputed the Commission's decision and appealed to the EU courts, arguing that Android had expanded choice rather than reduced it. Its challenge was largely unsuccessful: the General Court upheld most of the decision, and the Court of Justice dismissed Google's further appeal. — Google / Alphabet Inc.

Amendment (14 Sep 2022): The General Court (Case T-604/18) largely confirmed the Commission's decision but, exercising its unlimited jurisdiction, set the fine at EUR 4.125 billion instead of the Commission's EUR 4.34 billion. A General Court of the European Union, Judgment in Case T-604/18, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Android) (Press release No 147/22) (14 Sep 2022) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026

Outcome · European Commission (largely confirmed by the General Court in 2022 with a revised fine; confirmed on final appeal by the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2026) · 2 Jul 2026

official findingbinding

Confirmed fact · as of 2 Jul 2026

On 18 July 2018 the European Commission found that Google had abused its dominant position through illegal restrictions on Android device manufacturers and network operators and imposed a fine of EUR 4.34 billion. On 14 September 2022 the General Court (Case T-604/18) largely upheld the decision and the infringement finding, but exercising its unlimited jurisdiction reduced the fine to EUR 4.125 billion. On 2 July 2026 the Court of Justice (Case C-738/22 P) dismissed Google and Alphabet's appeal, confirming the abuse finding and the EUR 4,125,000,000 fine (with Alphabet jointly and severally liable for EUR 1,520,605,895). This is an EU competition (administrative) matter, not a criminal conviction.

A European Commission, Antitrust: Commission fines Google EUR 4.34 billion for illegal practices regarding Android mobile devices (Press release IP/18/4581) (18 Jul 2018) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026 · A General Court of the European Union, Judgment in Case T-604/18, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Android) (Press release No 147/22) (14 Sep 2022) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026 · A Court of Justice of the European Union, Judgment in Case C-738/22 P, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Android) (Press release No 93/26) (2 Jul 2026) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026

Remedy: A fine, revised by the General Court to EUR 4,125,000,000 and confirmed by the Court of Justice. The Commission also required Google to bring the infringing conduct to an end.

Appeal/review: concluded — Google and Alphabet appealed the General Court's 2022 judgment to the Court of Justice (Case C-738/22 P). On 2 July 2026 the Court of Justice dismissed that appeal, confirming the revised EUR 4.125 billion fine; the Court of Justice is the final instance. A Court of Justice of the European Union, Judgment in Case C-738/22 P, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Android) (Press release No 93/26) (2 Jul 2026) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026

How to read this. Allegation, response and outcome are separate, dated records. "Decided/resolved" appears only where a cited outcome supports it. Materially affected parties can request a correction via Corrections & response.