Two people familiar with the strategy told Reuters that Google is preparing to approach India's Supreme Court within a few days to try and block a ruling by the country's antitrust watchdog that will force the US company to change how it markets its Android platform.
The Competition Commission of India CCI fined Alphabet Inc for $161 million in October for exploiting its dominant position in the market for Android, which powers 97% of smartphones in India, a key growth region for the US giant.
Google has been worried about the Indian decision as remedies ordered are seen as more sweeping than the European Commission's landmark 2018 decision to impose unrestrictions on Android mobile device makers. Google has challenged the record $4.3 billion fine in that case.
In India, Google is about to file a legal challenge at the Supreme Court within a few days, as the antitrust watchdog's Jan. 19 deadline to implement changes to its model looms, according to the first source with direct knowledge.
A spokesman for Google didn't respond immediately to a request for comment.
The Supreme Court approach will come after Google was hit with a setback on Wednesday when a tribunal turned down its request to block the antitrust ruling. The company argued that the implementation of CCI's directives will hurt its long-standing business model and consumer interests.
The company has no other option than to approach the Supreme Court for relief after some of CCI's directives can't be implemented, according to the source.
Google licenses its Android system to smartphone makers, but critics say it imposes restrictions like mandatory pre-installation of its own apps that are anti-competitive. The company argues that such agreements help keep the operating system free.
The CCI ruled in October that Google's licensing of its Play Store will not be linked to the requirement of pre-installing Google search services, the Chrome browser, YouTube or any other Google applications.
Google has reported that the CCI has copied parts of a European 2018 ruling against the US firm in its filings. The European Commission and the CCI haven't responded to those allegations.