Google secures Chinese approval for Motorola deal

Google has confirmed that Chinese authorities have approved its $12.5bn acquisition of Motorola.

According to widespread reports confirmation of the deal was given on Sunday and now means the deal has been approved by all major jurisdictions. Both European and US authorities gave their approvals for the deal in February.

At that time, though, they warned Google that it would remain under scrutiny for any suggestion that it used the purchase of Motorola for anti-competitive practices.

According to Reuters, a source familiar with the Chinese approval process said the deal was given with the requirement that the Android system remain free and open to use for five years.

"We are pleased that the deal received regulatory approval in all jurisdictions and we look forward to closing early this week," said a spokesperson for Motorola.

V3 contacted Google for comment on the approval but had received no reply at time of publication.

Google’s purchase of Motorola was first announced in August 2011 and is primarily designed to give the firm access to a trove of important mobile and wireless patents to help its protect its Android platform against legal threats from the likes of Microsoft.

Motorola’s patent portfolio has already proven its strength after a judge ruled Microsoft could face a potential sales ban on its products in Germany, although this is not enforceable at present due to a prior ruling in the US.