EU expected to OK Googerola deal next week

Hot on the heels of news that the U.S. Department of Justice will approve Google’s acquisition of Motorola, word has come in that the E.U. is also expected to approve the deal, possibly as early as Monday. While a handful of other countries are still required to provide regulatory approval, the E.U. was seen as a potential road block after consumer groups petitioned for a deeper probe into Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility.

To ease concerns, Google released a letter this week stating the specific manner in which they planned to use Motorola’s patents for lawsuits (i.e. defensively) and placed a cap on the rate they’d ask for in FRAND-based patent licensing deals. It apparently assuaged any remaining doubts, as both the U.S. and E.U. are now expected to approve the deal without asking for any concessions. This should perhaps not be a surprise, since competitors Apple, RIM, and Nokia all make mobile operating systems and manufacture the hardware for them.

The deal won’t be completely in the clear – Chinese regulators have until March 20th to render an opinion on the deal. Regulators in Israel and Taiwan also still have to sign off on the deal before it can officially close. But U.S. and E.U. approval are major milestones on the way to completing the acquisition.

And just in time, as apparently Google has big plans for their new hardware division. Who’s looking forward to seeing what Googerola has up its sleeves in the coming years?

source: Reuters