News Byte

EU Approval Clears Way for Microsoft-Nokia Deal

Europe has signed off on Microsoft’s pending acquisition of Nokia’s phone business. On Wednesday morning, the European Commission, the European Union’s antitrust authority, rubber-stamped the deal, saying a review had concluded that the transaction would not raise any competition concerns. The EC’s approval follows by mere days a similar endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice, and sets the stage for the deal to be completed early next year.

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Frances Pushes EU to Tax U.S. Internet Companies

France plans to push for new Europe-wide regulations and tax rules on U.S. Internet giants when European Union leaders meet next month to discuss the bloc’s digital challenges.

EU Wants More Concessions From Samsung in Patent-Abuse Case

Room for improvement.
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Samsung Trying to Settle European Patent-Abuse Charges

“Samsung wants to settle.”

EU Regulators Eye Google Again — This Time It’s Android

More trouble for Google abroad.

EU Probing Apple’s iPhone Carrier Deals

Is Apple using anticompetitive sales tactics in the European smartphone market?

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EU Presses Motorola Mobility Over Patent Licensing

The EU has become a key market where tech giants are slugging it out over patents.

Penguin to Drop Apple E-Book Deal to Settle EU Antitrust Probe

So much for that “agency” e-book model.

Coalition of Google Rivals Complains to Europe Over Android Bundling

A group that includes Microsoft, Nokia, Oracle and TripAdvisor says Google is engaging in deceptive practices in its dealings with Android and mobile search.

Spanish Linux Group Files EC Complaint Over Windows 8 Secure Boot

Microsoft European antitrust woes: A neverending story.

Google Shares Hit Another All-Time High