In brief: Google was found in violation of competition police in South Korea, after an investigation revealed it had forced OEMs to sign "anti-fragmentation agreements." This is only 1 of several fines levied on the company in contempo years, and it looks like more castigating measures may be on the fashion.

Google is no stranger to antitrust fines. The latest comes from South Korea'south Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), who recently appear that it levied a 207.4 billion won ($177 million) fine on the search giant for allegedly abusing its market power in the Android ecosystem and stifling competition and innovation in mobile operating systems.

According to the KFTC, the decision is the result of an investigation that found Google required telephone manufacturers to sign something called an "anti-fragmentation agreement." This means that in social club for an OEM to get access to Android, it would have to agree to a set up of terms that prohibit the installation of forks -- modified versions of Android -- on its devices.

The KFTC found this to be in violation of local antitrust law, so it ordered Google and its local subsidiaries to cease the do and remove the requirement from its existing contracts. Korea'southward contest watchdog is also conducting three separate investigations into the Play Store, its billing system, and Google's practices in the advertising market, respectively.

A Google spokesperson explained that Android's compatibility program has been conducive to the success of hardware and software innovators in the Android ecosystem. The company believes "the KFTC's decision released today ignores these benefits, and will undermine the advantages enjoyed by consumers."

Google plans to appeal the KFTC'due south ruling, which applies to more than than just smartphones -- smartwatches, tablets, smart TVs, and all other Android devices are included in the cosmetic measures. This besides comes just as South Korea passed its "anti-Google law," which requires companies similar Google and Apple tree to allow developers to bypass their app store payment systems.

The $177 million fine may seem like a mere slap on the wrist for Google, simply this is only one in a string of levies received this yr.

Dorsum in May, Google was fined $123 million in Italy for stifling competition in the Android Motorcar infinite. In July, France hit Google to the melody of $591 million for failing to negotiate fair deals with local news publishers. In the Usa, the search giant faces its biggest antitrust lawsuit all the same over its alleged gatekeeping of Android through the Play Shop.

Masthead credit Kai Wenzel