Google reportedly faces broader probe over use of Motorola patents

The Federal Trade Commission's broad antitrust probe into Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Internet search and search advertising businesses has been widened to include how Google is using patents it obtained in its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility, according to a New York Times report. The report, citing unnamed sources, said the FTC issued subpoenas in June seeking information from Google other companies including Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and it questioned representatives of the companies as recently as a few weeks ago.  The investigators are specifically looking at how Google is using standards-essential wireless patents that Motorola owned.  Google obtained around 17,000 patents when it purchased Motorola. Article