La pratica di Google di richiedere indirizzi Gmail per gli account utente è illegale, secondo una sentenza del tribunale tedesca. La società madre di GMX e Web.DE (IONOS) aveva intentato una causa.

Partial legal victory against Google for the German mail provider GMX/Web.de: The Regional Court of Mainz has prohibited the US technology giant from giving preference to its own mail service Gmail when users set up an Android smartphone and create a Google account. A Google account is required for the Google Play app store or to log in to YouTube, for example.

According to the ruling, a Gmail address was long required for this setup. Mail addresses from GMX.de and Web.de could not be used or could only be used with difficulty – which, according to the ruling, put Google’s competitors under pressure.
Parent company 1&1 must bear part of the court costs
However, the court dismissed parts of the claim, which is why 1&1 must bear three quarters of the legal costs. As the parent company of GMX/Web.de, 1&1 is the plaintiff in the case.

The judgment is not final and the case is likely to go to the next instance. Google has already lodged an appeal.

Log-in now also possible with a cell phone number
Google has already changed the behavior denounced in the lawsuit: Since May, it has also been possible to enter just a cell phone number when setting up. However, Google then automatically creates a Gmail address – which is not sufficient according to the court.

In the lawsuit, 1&1 referred to the new EU digital market law. The “Digital Markets Act”, or DMA for short, has been strengthening the rights of consumers and smaller companies against tech companies such as Apple and Google since 2024. The basic assumption is that large platform operators are so powerful that they could cement their market position. They must therefore treat their own services and those of competitors equally.

1&1: EU regulations are having an effect

1&1 was satisfied with the ruling. “This is a good sign for competition and consumer freedom of choice,” explained Michael Hagenau, Managing Director of GMX and Web.de. In future, millions of users will be able to consciously decide against Gmail and in favor of a European provider with strict data protection. This is “a tangible signal for digital sovereignty”.

Translated with deepl.com

Like this gonna change anything.
Google would ignore it for years and after lost legal battle pay 2M in 10 year in fines, same as did many time before

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Thank you Germany and the European union, this is the kind of stuff that matters to its citizens /s

Ffs