After a lengthy investigation into Google's business practices by the Federal Trade Commission, the Web giant has agreed to make minor changes to resolve complaints by competitors and advertisers. It avoided any fines.
The commission found that Google's search results were not biased in favor of its own results in a way that was anti-competitive. However, the FTC did rule that Google must stop blocking the use of standard essential patents by competitors. The patents, which it acquired when it purchased Motorola, are used to comply with technical standards.
Google also agreed to remove restrictions on the use of AdWords, its search advertising platform, that make it harder for advertisers to coordinate their campaigns across multiple platforms.
• What Google's settlement with the FTC means for users
• Yelp calls FTC deal with Google a 'missed opportunity'
• Gary Reback: FTC blew it with Google decision
• EU: FTC decision on Google won't affect our case
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iPhone 5S in pink? Watch for new colors in spring, analyst says
Analyst Brian White claims the next iPhone will get the same color selection as the iPod Touch and arrive in May or June. Oh, and there will be a range of sizes.Samsung to sell first Tizen smartphone in 2013, report says
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• Details of proposed sanctions emerge in Apple-Samsung case
Amazon apologizes for Netflix's Christmas Eve streaming outage
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Huawei linked to plan to sell restricted equipment to Iran
A major partner of the Chinese telecommunications gear maker offered to sell $1.7 million worth of embargoed HP computer equipment to Iran, according to documents reviewed by Reuters. Also of note
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