The settlement between Google and the FTC is the result of a 20-month antitrust investigation by the FTC into Google's business practices. “We are glad to see that Google will live up to its commitments to license its standard-essential patents, which will ensure that companies willing to license these patents can compete in the market for wireless devices,” FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said in a statement.
Part of the FTC’s investigation revolved around Google’s $12.5bn acquisition of Motorola Mobility. The FTC found Google guilty of abusing its patents for wireless standards, which are supposed to be licensed at reasonable royalty rates to others. As part of the settlement, Google agreed to license its standards patents on FRAND – fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory – terms.
FierceWireless: Google to stop using patents as weapons as part of FTC settlement; TelecomTV content partner.
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