AfterDawn: News

KFTC raids Google's offices in Seoul

The Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) have raided Google's offices in Seoul.

It is unclear if the raid is complete, but the KFTC had planned the raids in an effort to search for evidence and information relating to their practices with Android.



The KFTC stepped in after complaints from NHN Corp and Daum Communications Corp, South Korean search engine services. Both claimed Google is engaging in anti-competitive practices with Android by pre-installing Google software in the OS.

Additionally, the companies say Android is "systematically designed" to make switching to a different engine difficult.

Google quickly responded to the news:

We will work with the KFTC to address any questions they may have about our business. Android is an open platform, and carrier and OEM partners are free to decide which applications and services to include on their Android phones. We do not require carriers or manufacturers to include Google Search or Google applications on Android-powered devices.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 8 Sep 2011 15:57

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• 10 comments

• hikaricor

  So.... this actually justified a raid?

  8.9.2011 16:27 #1

• Invasian

  You can change it under settings. If someone wanted to change it...its not that hard...
  

  8.9.2011 16:47 #2

• buxtahuda

  Wow...

  8.9.2011 16:55 #3

• Morreale

  What a surprise. Google's own operating system contains their software pre-installed. Who woulda thought...
  
  I'm sure if these idiot search companies maintained and developed their own OS, it would have their names splashed all over it too.
  

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  8.9.2011 19:14 #4

• deak91

  then Ashton Kutcher came out and yelled "oh man you've been googled!!!!"

  8.9.2011 20:49 #5

• solamf30

  Originally posted by Morreale: What a surprise. Google's own operating system contains their software pre-installed. Who woulda thought...
  
  I'm sure if these idiot search companies maintained and developed their own OS, it would have their names splashed all over it too. Well MS was sued for including IE with their OS. Not much difference just different foot this time

  8.9.2011 20:52 #6

• ddp

  but ie is part of windows wereas google is not part of android.
  

  8.9.2011 21:14 #7

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by ddp: but ie is part of windows wereas google is not part of android. Actually, the browser is part of android...you can't remove it without rooting. So is the market app. Of course, without either of these, there would be no way to get competing software...the phone would be as useless as a Nokia.
  

  
  

  8.9.2011 23:05 #8

• buxtahuda

  Originally posted by KillerBug: Originally posted by ddp: but ie is part of windows wereas google is not part of android. Actually, the browser is part of android...you can't remove it without rooting. So is the market app. Of course, without either of these, there would be no way to get competing software...the phone would be as useless as a Nokia. This is true, but the Korean reasons are absolutely invalid. It's no more difficult to change the search provider than it is to change your home page or any other setting in the browser. Granted I don't know about foreign installments, but they do only offer the big three: Google, Yahoo, and Bing. But it's not like an un-removable Google Chrome app is on these phones; it's a generic browser whose settings are customizable.
  
  It doesn't even default to Google, aren't you asked what you'd like to use upon first booting into the device? And it says namely because of preloaded Google software. Google doesn't preload a thing do they (even says in article doesn't it?), it's all up to manufacturers/carriers on what is pre-installed.

  10.9.2011 11:57 #9

• leglessoz

  Even in my android phone I can simply type bing.com if I choose and make a shortcut. The raid and accusations are BS. It's like the European thing about Windows users being forced to Internet Explorer on their systems. Big deal. Install Firefox if you don't like it, as I did. All of these lawsuits and other crap are exactly that - crap.

  13.9.2011 00:36 #10