3 ms·
Let's say Amazon creates their own OS. Google then makes manufacturers sign a contract that says if they manufacture devices that run Android (with access to Go
by mdasen 3y ago
Let's say Amazon creates their own OS. Google then makes manufacturers sign a contract that says if they manufacture devices that run Android (with access to Google Play services), they can't manufacture devices that use forks of Android or Amazon's from-scratch OS.
If it's an anti-trust violation, then it's an anti-trust violation whether it's a fork of Android or not. If it isn't an anti-trust violation, then Google can ban things that aren't forks of Android too.
If it's legal for Google to force manufacturers not to use Android-based FireOS, then they could also force manufacturers not to use Vega-based FireOS. It feels like Amazon needs to challenge the legitimacy of those Google contracts or else they may find themselves in another situation where Google just amends their manufacturer contract to disallow Android forks and Vega-based FireOS.
- thaumasiotes 3y ago> If it's an anti-trust violation, then it's an anti-trust violation whether it's a fork of Android or not. If it isn't an anti-trust violation, then Google can ban things that aren't forks of Android too. Actually, the law often turns more on the intent of the person being investigated than on what they do. (Is this a good idea? No.) Google can claim a more convincing fig leaf when they're regulating Android than they can when they're just saying "also, you can't work with Amazon". And that slight difference in plausibility can make a big difference in whether the same contractual clause is legal or illegal.