## Google Agrees to Corrective Action Plan in Japan
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) in Japan has certified a corrective action plan submitted by Google LLC, resolving concerns that Google unfairly restricted the search advertising business of its rival, Yahoo Japan Corp. This marks the first administrative action taken against Google in Japan based on the Anti-Monopoly Law.
The FTC's investigation revealed that Google, in November 2014, demanded Yahoo Japan stop delivering search advertisements to smartphone sites other than its own. This effectively hampered Yahoo's ability to compete in the mobile search advertising market. Following the FTC's investigation, Google retracted its demand, and Yahoo resumed its services in November 2022.
Refrain from restricting Yahoo's access to its technology for the next three years, unless authorized by the FTC.
Submit to regular audits by independent experts to ensure compliance with the plan.
Report the status of its compliance to the FTC for three years.
The FTC will closely monitor Google's operations and may reopen its investigation if the company fails to fulfill its obligations. However, it will not impose any fines or cease-and-desist orders.
This case highlights the FTC's commitment to ensuring fair competition in the digital market. The agency's actions demonstrate its willingness to hold even large tech companies accountable for anti-competitive practices.