Europe Clears Google Acquisition of Motorola

By JAMES KANTER
NYT

BRUSSELS — European Union antitrust regulators on Monday approved Google’s acquisition of the U.S. cellphone maker Motorola Mobility without conditions, but added a stern warning: Play fair in markets for smartphones and tablet computers, or face tough sanctions.

Joaquín Almunia, the E.U. competition commissioner, did not impose any formal requirements before Google could complete the $12.5 billion deal that represents the Internet search giant’s first foray into hardware.

But the deal, coming at a time of heightened scrutiny by regulators over ownership of intellectual property governing computers and mobile communications, moved Mr. Almunia to indicate that the commission would be watching.

The decision, he said in a statement, “does not mean that the merger clearance blesses all actions by Motorola in the past or all future action by Google.” He said any action on “the question whether Motorola’s or Google’s conduct is compliant with E.U. antitrust law” would be taken separately.

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