Here we are into 2013, and still no public decision on the Google antitrust investigation from the FTC. That may change soon, however (I know, we keep hearing that).
All Things D is reporting, citing “multiple sources” that the FTC will likely rule on its investigation this week “with a similar settlement to the one discussed before the December holidays”.
It had been expected that the FTC would announce its decision by the end of the year, but just ahead of the weekend before Christmas, reports came out that the decision would be delayed, while Google was reportedly sending an offer to EU regulators. Presumably, the FTC wanted to see how that went.
Earlier reports had indicated that Google would offer “voluntary concessions” that would end the FTC’s probe.
According to the All Things D report, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz (pictured) is calling for the FTC’s commissioners to vote this week.
This week, Joshua Wright, President Obama’s nominee for the FTC was confirmed by the Senate. Last month, Wright indicated he would recuse himself from Google-related cases for two years, to avoid any conflict of interest. He has written papers speaking out against antitrust regulation of Google in the past.
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