The US FTC closes its investigation and approves the voluntary commitment of an internet search engine (Google)

Thoughts On Google's FTC Settlement On Jan. 3, 2013, the Federal Trade Commission ended its highly publicized and wide-ranging investigation into Google Inc.’s business practices with an enforcement action that has been described by some as a “slap on the wrist.” [1] The enforcement action was limited to an order under which Google will not seek injunctions or exclusionary orders to enforce patent rights that are essential to certain technology standards if Google has committed to license those patents under fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory (FRAND) terms. The FTC took no formal action against Google with respect to its Internet search practices and closed its investigation with a voluntary commitment by Google to modify some of these practices. Commissioners J. Thomas Rosch and