FTC finalizes Google patents settlement

{mosads}The patents, which Google acquired when it purchased Motorola Mobility, cover technologies that companies across the industry use so that phones, tablets, video game systems and other devices can communicate with each other. Motorola had promised to license the patents on fair and reasonable terms.

Google agreed to an order that requires the company to go through third-party mediation before it can sue competitors over their use of the technologies.

After reviewing comments from Google and others, the FTC announced technical modifications on Wednesday to the order, including to the arbitration process for patent complaints. 

The commission approved the new order in a 2-1 vote with Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen dissenting. Commissioner Joshua Wright, who conducted research for Google before being appointed to the FTC, recused himself from the vote.