South Korea fines Google $32 mln for blocking release of games on competitor’s platform

Netmarble

11/04/2023 04:00

SEOUL, April 11 (Reuters) - South Korea's antitrust
regulator has fined Alphabet Inc's  GOOGL.O  Google 42.1 billion
won ($31.88 million) for blocking the release of mobile video
games on a competitor's platform.
    The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said on Tuesday that 
Google bolstered its market dominance, and hurt local app market
One Store's revenue and value as a platform, by requiring video
game makers to exclusively release their titles on Google Play
in exchange for providing in-app exposure between June 2016 and
April 2018.
    The KFTC said the move against the U.S. technology giant is
part of efforts by the government to ensure fair markets.
    Game makers affected by Google's action include Netmarble
 251270.KS , Nexon  225570.KQ  and NCSOFT  036570.KS , as well
as other smaller companies, the antitrust regulator added.
    In 2021, Google was fined more than 200 billion won by the
KFTC for blocking customised versions of its Android operating
system.

($1 = 1,320.4200 won)

 (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
 ((Hyunsu.Yim@thomsonreuters.com;))