Google gains EU approval for Motorola Mobility acquisition

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The European Union has given Google full approval to acquire smartphone maker Motorola Mobility today. The EU's regulators required no concessions from Google, saying that the deal does not raise competition issues. The EU regulators did say that they would closely monitor Google and its rivals' use of patents to ensure that anti-trust regulations are being heeded.

Referring to the EU's concerns about possible future patent abuses, EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Alminia said "we might be obliged to open some cases in the future. This is not enough to block the merger, but we will be vigilant."

Google still requires regulatory approval from the U.S., China, Taiwan, and Israel before the deal can close. The U.S. is expected to announce its decision soon, and China is expected to announce either approval or the requirement for further investigation on March 20, according to Reuters.