Maulik Surani Vs Alphabet Inc. (Competition Commission of India)
The case of Maulik Surani Vs Alphabet Inc. was brought before the Competition Commission of India (CCI) under Section 19(1)(a) of the Competition Act, 2022. The Informant, Maulik Surani, co-founder of Capset Infotech, alleged that Google violated Sections 3(4) and 4 of the Act through its ad-tech intermediation services. Capset Infotech relies on Google Ad Manager for revenue generated via in-app advertisements on its mobile applications. The Informant accused Google of engaging in anti-competitive practices, such as tying its DoubleClick for Publishers with AdX, favoring its own properties, and imposing discriminatory pricing rules, all of which allegedly restrict competition and limit publisher choice.
The CCI’s initial review acknowledged Google’s significant market position in ad-tech services and accepted the Informant’s delineation of relevant markets, including publisher ad servers, ad-buying tools, and ad exchanges. Allegations against Google included abuse of dominance, opaque pricing practices, and leveraging its web search market power to influence the ad-tech sector. The CCI noted that similar issues were already under investigation in ongoing cases and decided to consolidate the matter for a comprehensive investigation by the Director General (DG). The DG has been tasked with submitting a unified report addressing these allegations.
